Some 6, 000 pastoralists are set to benefit from Kenya Livestock Insurance Program (KLIP) payouts for the 2018 short rain seasons to the tune of Sh.87 million.
The amount will be disbursed through the Takaful Insurance of Africa through its 22 insurance units to pastoralists in eight counties namely Marsabit, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana and Mandera, from those areas severely affected by drought in the short rain season of October-December 2018.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mwangi Kiunjuri, the payout is intended to provide resources for the purchase of animal feeds, water, procure animal health care services or even move the animals to areas with better forage to cushion them against severe starvation and possible deaths.
Kiunjuri noted that KLIP is an important programme for the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) Counties of Kenya and the Country at large given the importance of livestock in the economy, further observing that development of pastoral areas is central to the Big Four Agenda and the Agricultural Sector Transformational and Growth Strategy (ASTGS).
“Boosting food resilience is one of the flagships of ASTGS, and employing insurance instruments to de-risk agriculture investments especially for small holders to ensure it remains attractive, certain and sustainable,” said Kiunjuri.
The CS who spoke on Wednesday during a media brief at Kilimo House indicated that the programme is a collaborative effort between national and country governments, further calling on County governments to set aside funds to complement National government efforts.
“18, 000 pastoral households are under this insurance cover, distributed in the mentioned eight counties with 90, 000 Tropical Livestock Units at a cost of premiums worth Sh.240 million in 2018,” stated the CS.
He revealed that the government is soon starting a partial voluntary cover that would see the government give an extra cover bought from the voluntary market.
“Insurance of property and indeed livestock is a personal responsibility. Aid the government to help you secure the lives of your livestock,” the CS urged those who pastoralists who were yet to join the insurance program and called on insurance companies to carry out insurance sales in order to enhance sustainability of the product.
He further acknowledged that the government indeed still owed Isiolo farmers more than Sh.44 million further revealing that they would be paid soon as it has already been factored in the supplementary budget.
He as well mentioned that the Crop Insurance Program would in a few weeks’ time make a payout of about Sh.25 million to participating farmers in areas that experienced yield reduction.
By Alice Gworo
