Garissa livestock keepers have criticized the Kenyan Meat Commission (KMC) livestock off-take program that was launched in mid-January, saying the project has never had much impact as earlier on anticipated.
The farmers are now calling on the commission to pay them their dues for the 30 cattle that were slaughtered during the program launch held at a Garissa town slaughter house.
Confirming the farmers' frustrations, the Kenya Livestocks Marketing Council Chairman Amey Dubat lamented that the livestock farmers who have been hardly hit by the ongoing drought situation were initially happy with the program but have now lost hope.
Addressing a press conference in Garissa town on Thursday morning, Amey who was flanked by several other council officials queried if the project was actually meant to benefit livestock keepers or was a public relations stunt by the government.
“At times we lack answers to these many questions because we are totally in the dark on what is going on. Let the Jubilee government come out clearly on what is going on here,” he complained.
He said the senior officials who were present during the presidential launch, including himself were under pressure from many worried livestock farmers in the remote areas calling to inquire about the off-take program and when their near-death animals would be purchased.