The government will use Sh170 million to purchase livestock from pastoralist communities and slaughter them for consumption, even as drought persists.
Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Managing Commissioner Joseph Learamo indicated that they were targeting the worst drought affected 11 Counties including Samburu, Turkana, Garissa, and Wajir.
He indicated the government targets to purchase 2,000 livestock, especially Cows, in Samburu from Sh15,000 Sh18,000 per cow, during the first phase, before replicating the same to other Counties.
Learamo however said: "Some areas have very weak animals that can not not be transported to KMC in Nairobi for slaughter. In case of this, we do de-stocking or slaughter them and distribute the meat to residents in the drought affected communities.''
He further asked the government to put more input in the programme and buy more livestock from the farmers, to prevent them from getting losses, whenever they die due to famine and water shortage.