State's Sh100m to help pastoralists fight drought

By Augustine Oduor
The Government has set aside Sh100 million to buy livestock from pastoralist communities in North Eastern province to cushion them against drought.
Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo said his ministry, through Ewaso Ng’iro North River Basin Development Authority (Ennda), has intervened following losses experienced in previous years.
"No more animals will die because of drought. Ennda has the power and capability and ours is only to facilitate them to boost their capacity," he said.
The Westlands MP said the authority is in the process of acquiring 240,000 hectares of land in Isiolo county that will be converted into a holding ground.
"The ground will have adequate water and feeds to fatten the animals before they are sold to prospective buyers," he said.
The minister said the first batch of the cash will be released before the end of this financial year.
"This project must start immediately. We will disburse the first Sh50 million and the rest will be sent later," he said. Gumo was speaking in Isiolo, when he toured various development projects undertaken in the region by Ennda, an authority whose projects and programmes are undertaken within Ewaso Ng’iro North River Basin. Ennda operates in Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Samburu, Nyeri and Nyandarua counties.
Rashid Amin, Ennda managing director said plans are also underway to construct a slaughterhouse on a 60,000 hectare piece of land at Habaswein in Wajir County.
Habaswein region is a stock route to Ethiopia and Somalia and it has a lot of water.
He said the Arab Development Bank has committed Sh300 million to the project through the integrated regional development plan.
"The bank has said it will help us realise the completion of the project," he said.
He said the slaughterhouse will then be connected to Wajir airport for better transportation of meat to the market. Amin noted the abattoir will help pastoralists in the region to dispose off their animals and enable them get good money in return.
The region holds 80 per cent of livestock population in Kenya and the twin initiative is set to employ many youths in the region as well.