The Kenyan Government is committed to investing in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) to reduce climate related vulnerability of the people.
The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Ministry of Devolution and ASALs, Abdul Bahari Ali has said activities funded by the National Government in the Counties are specifically designed to support livelihood and promote linkages with long-term development strategies.
Speaking on Monday when he paid a courtesy call on the Laikipia Governor, Ndiritu Muriithi at the County House in Nanyuki, before attending a County Steering Committee (CSC) meeting at County National Drought Management Authority’s (NDMA) Boardroom, Bahari noted climate change across the world has resulted to extreme droughts and floods which poses a great danger to human life and their economy.
The CAS said 23 counties in Kenya are classified as ASAL and this is where poverty is highly recorded.
“Drought and climate change have a potential to stagnate development and cause severe human suffering. It’s important to promote sustainable livelihoods in areas which are mostly affected by drought and climate change to reduce vulnerability and build resilience,’’ Bahari noted.
The Laikipia Nature Conservancy which is owned by renowned author, Kuki Galman has donated 5,000 hectares of land, whose borders are currently being secured through fencing for the targeted communities to start fattening their livestock.
He said NDMA through its Laikipia County Office in conjunction with Laikipia Nature Conservancy has started a project which will benefit 1,195 households and will hold 30,000 cattle, 125,000 sheep, 50,000 goats, 200 donkeys and 400 camels on the land for fattening.
The Projects dubbed “Laikipia-Baringo Inter County Integrated Drought Preparedness and Rresilience,’’ will benefit communities living in Laikipia West Sub-county, Sossian Ward and East Tiaty Sub-county and Churo Amaya Ward.
He announced that the total cost of the project is Sh. 68,119,950 .00 out of which Sh. 58,397,200 has been donated by European Union (EU) through NDMA, while Sh. 6,564,000 is donated by the Laikipia Nature Conservancy while 3,178,750 comes from the community.
Governor Muriithi said Laikipia is agriculturally livestock oriented and the County is focused on ensuring that the sector is taken care of at all times.
He pointed out that the County through its Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is empowering livestock farmers across the County through introduction of feedlots aimed at production of quality beef.
“The introduction of feedlots in our County is focused on producing quality beef for export and huge profitable gains,’’ he noted.
Governor Muriithi noted that one of the main ways to end drought is through water investment and pointed out that water for production is one of the main agenda in his County’s development agenda.
By Margaret Kirera
