President Uhuru Kenyatta when he launched the Sh215 million Livestock Insurance payouts. Photo: @ukenyatta
President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday officially launched four government initiatives aimed at cushioning Kenyans, especially pastoralists, from the effects of severe drought.
The programs launched were the Sh215 million Livestock Insurance payouts which will help vulnerable pastoralists to purchase fodder and animal feed supplements to keep their animals alive up to the end of drought, the new oil-based foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine which will protect livestock from the disease, the enhanced Livestock off-take exercise as well as the cash transfer program.
Speaking during the launch in Lodwar town, President Kenyatta expressed optimism that the Government’s drought mitigation initiatives will help improve the lives of Kenyans in Arid and Semi Arid counties.
“The Kenya Livestock Insurance Program (KLIP) – which is the first of its kind in Kenya, East Africa and Africa – will also ensure that pastoralists are able to restock even after they lose their livestock through drought,” President Kenyatta said.
The President – who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto – said the insurance program will also help curb cattle rustling and boost peace initiatives.
During the occasion, President Kenyatta presented cheques worth Kshs 43 million to beneficiaries of the Kenya Livestock Insurance Program in Turkana County.
He pointed out that the livestock insurance program will also benefit pastoralist in Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tana River and Wajir as part of the government’s effort to mitigate the drought situation.
President Kenyatta also presented cheques to beneficiaries of the cash transfer program in Turkana County where Sh57 million was disbursed under the scaled up hunger safety net while Sh234 million was given out through the regular hunger safety net payment.