Vulnerable pastoral communities in Laikipia, Meru benefit from livestock restocking initiatives

KENYA – Approximately 326 vulnerable pastoral households in Laikipia North Sub County, Laikipia County, received a significant livestock donation to improve their breeds. 

The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT), distributed Gala goats valued at Sh 17.4 million (approximately US$135,166.00). 

This initiative targets families who lost their livestock due to prolonged droughts, particularly in Mukogodo East and West, the regions most affected.

The Chief Executive Officer of NDMA, Hared Adan, emphasised the importance of restocking as a government-led initiative to bolster resilience within pastoral communities. 

He noted that the Gala goats, known for their high milk production and meat quality, would be used to improve traditional breeds through crossbreeding. 

“We have distributed about 250 bucks and 730 female Gala goats to various groups, intending to boost restocking and enhance the genetic quality of livestock in the region,” Adan stated during the Kimanjo, Laikipia North distribution event.

The local Member of Parliament, Sarah Korere, expressed her gratitude for the restocking efforts and highlighted the vital role livestock plays in the livelihoods of pastoral families. 

“This partnership with the government and other stakeholders is critical in helping our communities rebuild after the devastating losses caused by drought,” Korere remarked.

NDMA distributes dairy goats in Meru County

Similarly, the NDMA has extended its support to other semi-arid regions, including Meru County, where they launched a dairy goat distribution project in Kandebene on August 27, 2024. 

The European Union, in collaboration with the Meru County government, funded this initiative, which is valued at Sh 7.7 million (approximately US$59,815.00). 

The project involved distributing 142 does and eight bucks and seeds for fodder production to enhance food security and combat malnutrition in drought-prone areas.

PS Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development, Harsama Kello, highlighted the project’s importance in building drought resilience and improving the nutritional status of the local population. 

“Goat milk, with its high nutritional value, will significantly contribute to addressing malnutrition, particularly among children and lactating mothers,” Kello noted during the project’s launch.

The dairy goat project in Meru is structured to ensure sustainability, with operational committees already in place to oversee the initiative. 

The community’s involvement, including the commitment to share the first female offspring with neighbouring households, aims to multiply the benefits across the region. 

This collaborative approach underscores the government’s strategy of partnering with local communities to identify and address their specific needs, ensuring the success and longevity of such projects.

In addition to these efforts, NDMA’s broader livestock distribution programs have included similar initiatives in Nyeri, Laikipia, West Pokot, Kilifi, Garissa, Marsabit, Mandera, and soon, Baringo. 

These projects align with President William Ruto’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda, which focuses on empowering the common person and addressing the challenges posed by drought and climate change in ASAL regions.

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