Pastoralist communities are set to benefit from a Sh7.7 billion World Bank fund that is expected to help them cope with losses related to drought and diseases.
The financial donation will cater for a range of activities that include water provision, re-seeding of range lands, animal vaccinations and storage of fodder to ensure increased output for about 93,000 pastoral households.
“Pastoralists encounter unique challenges because they live in the most under-resourced regions in Kenya, and this mega project will help them mitigate the issue,” issued Diarietou Gaye, the World Bank Director for Kenya.
The global bank said the project targets pastoralists in 14 counties with the aim of reducing the death rate of their livestock herds by 30 percent, and at the same time increasing the value of livestock commodities traded in selected project centres by 10 percent.
The 14 beneficiary counties are Garissa, Turkana, Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir, West Pokot, Tana River, Narok, Baringo, Kajiado, Laikipia and Lamu.
The new intervention comes at the wake of time when clashes between pastoralist communities have been reported. The feuds are said to have been sparked off by discontent in sharing of pasture and water resources.