Pastoralists have been encouraged to invest in Kitchen gardens to boost food stocks during dry seasons.
Devolution Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli said the government was committed to help livestock farmers do embrace modern farming by offering training and other inputs required for small scale farming.
“We encourage the county governments to invest in vegetable farming so that every family can have a constant supply of food regardless of the season,” the PS said.
Sunkuli spoke yesterday at Kone Primary School in Loita ward, Narok South Sub County where he distributed food worth Sh9.5 million to five sub locations in the ward.
The food given by the National Government included 600 bags of rice, 600 of beans and over 1000 face masks that will be given to the most vulnerable families in the area.
“The government is committed in ensuring that no citizen sleeps hungry regardless of where they live. We have come here not only to give you food but to sensitize you on how to be self-sufficient,” said Sunkuli.
The PS who was accompanied by Tourism Principal Secretary Fred Segor said the donations from the National Government was meant to boost the livelihood of the pastoralists during this season of Covid-19.
The food, he said will be distributed by the local chiefs and village elders who are expected to identify the most vulnerable families which should be given the first priority.
He urged the community to follow guidelines put by the department of Health to avert Coronavirus that is spreading fast in the country.
At the same time, the PS who hails from the Maasai Community warned the residents against engaging in retrogressive and outlawed cultural practices.
“We need to protect our girls from outdated cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages that do not bring any economic value to our society,” said Sunkuli.
On his part, the Tourism PS said his department will employ more rangers to avoid the increasing human-wild conflict that has been experienced in the recent past.
Segor said since 2014 the government has given out Sh120 million to Narok residents as compensation for relatives killed by wild animals and Sh10 million compensation in the last one month for those injured by wild animals.
“Those compensated are only 25 percent, we will strive to compensate all the affected families by the end of the year,” reiterated the PS.
However, he called on residents to fence their farms and homesteads to prevent animals from straying into their premises.
Segor lauded the conservancies for doing a great job in containing the animals which he said are a great pride to the whole nation.
By Ann Salaton
