The national government in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has kicked off a Sh 23.7 million livestock offtake programme in Samburu County.
The exercise targets over 30,000 vulnerable households which have been affected by the ongoing drought which was coupled by locust invasion.
Speaking today during the launch of the programme at Lpetpet Primary School in Kisima town, Samburu Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Titus Omanyi said that 1,586 weak livestock will be bought from herders in Samburu County and then slaughtered for consumption by the community as relief meat.
“The offtake programme aims at cushioning herders from the ravages of drought by buying off weak animals instead of losing them to devastating drought,” he said adding “the government buys the weak animals and feeds the same community and as a result there is improved nutrition and purchasing power,” he said.
Omanyi said that one cow will be bought at Sh 15,000 while a goat or a sheep will go for Sh 3,000.
The DCC added that one slaughtered cow will feed ten households while one goat or sheep will feed four households and in targeted institutions such as schools one cow will feed 50 students.
At the same time, Omanyi said that KRCS will use mobile money to pay herders within 24 hours after slaughter.
“KRCS has already collected data from the herders and payment will be cashless,” he said.
By Robert Githu
