Kajiado farmers stare at billions of losses as drought effects sour – report

Farmers in Kajiado County are on the verge of losing about 450,000 cattle valued at approximately Ksh13. 6 billion due to the ongoing drought that has hit the region, a new survey report has shown.

According to the survey conducted by the County Government of Kajiado in conjunction with other humanitarian organisations, over 600,000 families are also starving with 75 per cent of wildlife at risk of succumbing to hunger.

The report released on Monday, August 29, depicts a dire famine situation facing residents.

All elected leaders across the political divide converged for a crisis meeting held on Monday, August 29, in Kajiado to deliberate on the hunger situation in an effort to save lives and livestock.

In the meeting chaired by Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, the county government through the disaster management kitty set aside Ksh100 Million to mitigate the situation as leaders asked the national government and other well-wishers to intervene.

Farmers to benefit from the county’s intervention

To avert human deaths due to hunger and mass livestock deaths, the stakeholders have settled on short term measures including provision of relief food for vulnerable persons at a cost of Ksh1,400 per month for the next three months and supplementary feeding for children under the age of five years and breastfeeding mothers.

The drought emergency kitty will also support 280,000 school-going children with supplementary food and dietary rations for Ksh16 per child in a day for the next three months.

Herders will also benefit from free livestock feed supplements, provision of hay, rehabilitation, and solarization of community boreholes.

On a long-term basis, the county government will begin sensitization programs geared toward empowering farmers to embrace modern farming instead of traditional livestock rearing.

“We as leaders are here today, united by hunger and a devastating situation we are facing as Kajiado. The situation needs urgent interventions.

“Families are sleeping hungry, cattle health continues to deteriorate and farmers’ capacity to feed them using hay has become unsustainable as it is too costly. We urge all humanitarian organizations and well-wishers to extend their generosity to our suffering people,” Lenku said.

In the last three months, prices of cattle have reduced up to 70 percent.

“I have 56 cattle. I can no longer feed them, it is further disheartening that I can barely get a customer to buy the same at a throwaway price of Ksh10, 000 for a mature cow,” Alex Teum, a farmer, narrated.

Initially, farmers were optimistic that the government through Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) would conduct an off-take program to save them from losses but the initiative has not been effected in the county.

Hay business has turned lucrative with an 8kgs bail of hay selling at Ksh350.

A kilogram of beef is now selling at Ksh430 wholesale price compared to 370 for a kilogram three months ago.

Meat dealers say the prices have soured due to the scarcity of cattle to slaughter.

Deteriorated cattle roaming in urban centers have become a norm as farmers now allow the animals to feed on garbage.