Thousands of pastoralists are set to benefit from cash payout programme which will be launched by the national government to support pastoralists being affected by the current drought.
The Sh215 million payout will be launched under the Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme and it will seek to support pastoralists to purchase fodder and animal feed for their stock until the drought comes to an end.
State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said the cash payouts will target 12,604 registered pastoralist households in seven counties being affected by drought.
The programme will target vulnerable pastoralists in Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tana River, Turkana and Wajir counties.
Esipisu added that the government will enhance measures already put in place to mitigate the drought affecting 23 counties.
“The government has enhanced water trucking in the 23 affected counties and rehabilitated boreholes for the growing number of people in need of water as the drought continues to worsen,” he said while speaking to the press.
Mr Esipisu said the off take programme launched by the government to buy off animals and slaughter them for the pastoralists is aimed at putting capital in the pocket of the pastoralists so that they can restock when the drought ends.
“In terms of provision of food, the administration has doubled up food rations to feed 3 million people, up from an initial figure of 1.3 million Kenyans. We are doing this through special programmes,” he added.