Govt kicks off livestock off take programme in Samburu

Residents of drought-stricken Samburu North have a reason to smile after the national government bought 1,000 goats and sheep for slaughtering and distribution of the meat to the same residents in the ongoing livestock off-take programme.

The government purchased weak animals from Ngilai and Logetei villages in Baragoi in the off-take program aimed at combating the drought menace in the country as well helping the herdsmen not to incur huge losses as a result of their animals succumbing to the drought.

Speaking during the exercise, National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) coordinator in Samburu County, Alex Leseketeti, said that the government will further buy 2,500 goats and sheep in Samburu North and East Sub to wrap up Phase 1 of the off-take program that will cost the government Ksh 5 million.

“Instead of waiting for the animals to die due to the ongoing drought, this program is aimed at buying the weak animals and slaughtering them for the same community. This is an advantage for the herders since they get to sell the goats to us and also consume the same meet to improve their nutrition,” said Mr Leseketeti.

According to the NDMA Coordinator, the program is targeting to distribute meet to 10,000 households affected by the gnawing drought.

“We are purchasing each animal at Ksh 2,000 and after slaughtering, each goat will be divided among four households.”

Samburu Governor, Moses Lenolkulal, who was also at the exercise, assured residents that they will not die out of hunger as the county government has set aside Ksh 90 million for purposes of buying and distributing relief food to all affected families in the next three months.

“The county government is also partnering with the World Food Programme (WFP) to supply cereals and vegetable oil every month for a period of three months, a deal worth Ksh 30 million,” noted the Governor.

Written by Majanga Michael