The Government has launched a livestock insurance programme targeted at cushioning pastoralist communities against drought and livestock diseases in arid and semi arid counties.
In an initiative dubbed Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme (KLIP) which was previously being piloted in Wajir and Turkana Counties, the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries ministry now plans to roll out the project to cover 14 other arid and semi-arid counties across the country.
The 14 counties to be covered include Garissa, Wajir, Turkana, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit, Tana River, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Lamu, Kajiado, Laikipia, and Narok.
Agriculture CS Willy Bett said the insurance programme is designed to support pastoralist households to protect their animals from dangers of drought and diseases instead of compensations after their livestock have died.
The programme will be jointly implemented in conjunction with the national and County Governments, in a deal that is projected to stimulate increased fodder crop production and market demands as well as catalyzing more insurance providers to invest in the ASAL areas.
During the launch of the programme, a massive payout of sh. 3,526,600 was issued to 275 pastoralists to help mitigate their livestock against drought effects.