The government has allocated Sh1 billion for livestock restocking programme to assist pastoralists in areas worst hit by banditry. The funds will also cater for pastoralists who lost their livestock as a result of the drought ravaging many parts of the country.

According to the Director of Livestock, Mohamed Aden, local leaders have been tasked to assist in identifying the affected families to benefit from the programme, which targets 16 counties.

He said that Sh1 billion, if well utilised, would go a long way in restoring dignity and pastoralists’ livelihoods.

“We call on livestock farmers to embrace feedlots as a way of livestock rearing to minimise traditional migration patterns, which has in the past sparked conflicts due to scramble for limited resources,” said Aden.

The feedlot livestock model is where livestock pastoralists are encouraged to grow pasture on their farms and harvest it for storage to be used during the dry spell.

Aden was speaking when he distributed more than 350 Gallagher goats at Kosile area in Baringo North sub-county. He said that the government has since identified 450 feedlots facilities across the country aimed at assisting farmers sell their livestock at good prices.

Pastoralists have welcomed the programme and called on the government to fast-track it before the onset of the rainy season.

Special fund

“Our people have been reduced to paupers after all their livestock which was their major source of livelihood were driven away by armed bandits,” said Joseph Makilap, Baringo North MP.

Many parts of the North Rift have not known peace for many years, which has left many people dead and thousands of livestock stolen. The perennial attacks have also left people without livelihoods and forced them to flee their ancestral homes.

Pastoralists from the conflict-prone region are also pushing for the setting up of a special fund to ensure that children continue with their studies.

“The lives of these students have completely been destroyed. It is only fair that the government settles their fees for them to continue with their studies,” said David Kimunyan, a youth leader from Arabal area.

Police reports show that more than 300 people have been killed and thousands of livestock stolen in the Kerio Valley belt alone during deadly raids since July 2021.