The Government Livestock Insurance Programme has released Sh.1.9 million being the last batch of 2018/2019 fund for Tana River County livestock farmers.
Speaking to the press on Thursday in his office, Tana River County Director for Livestock (CDL), David Wambua said cheques of up to Sh1.9 million was the final payments of the segment delayed, from the October 2018-February 2019 of the first phase for 2019 insurance issuing.
Wambua said the insurance programme, which is being undertaken by the national and county government, has benefitted over 2,500 livestock owners since its initiation in 2016 and a total of Sh236.2 million has been paid out.
The CDL said, these fragment payments were delayed as a result of mismatching bank account details of some of the insurance beneficiaries.
Wambua said the 2019 second phase payments were scheduled to commence before the end of this month.
“The processing of the 2019 second phase payments is underway, and we are hoping that before the end of August we will have started issuing the money to the beneficiaries,” he added.
He further added that the second phase insurance payment’s amount was expected to be higher, due to the worsening state of drought in the area.
The programme is aimed at cushioning pastoralists from the effects of drought as well as facilitating their migration to areas rich in pastures and water, buy hay and water for weak and lactating animals.
Tana River County is experiencing severe drought which has forced pastoralists to migrate from Tana North and Galole Sub-Counties, to Tana Delta, in search of pastures.
By Felix Mulu/Simon Guruba
