The government of Kenya has commenced a ground slaughter offtake program to slaughter over 26,000 cows and goats in 13 drought-stricken counties to feed Kenyans threatened by starvation.
The programme will kick off in the counties of Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Garissa, Makueni, Kajiado, Turkana, Wajir, Mandera and Tana River.
The program is being implemented by the Kenya Red Cross Society in conjunction with the Kenya Meat Commission led by Commissioner General, Brig James Githaga.
Currently, over 4.1 million Kenyans in 13 counties in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASALs) are in need of food aid following a prolonged drought that started in October 2021.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) reports and Kenya Red Cross Society internal estimates indicate heavy livestock losses across the 13 drought-affected counties.
KMC, which is run by the Ministry of Defence, started the program to help reduce the loss of animals, especially in areas that are experiencing losses in upwards of 70 percent. The program will run for a period of six months.
During the launch of the program, the Kenya Red Cross Secretary General, Asha Mohammed, welcomed the locals for considering and supporting the program.
“I am pleased that so far there has been a positive response from communities to the program. We are not only providing food for the hungry, but by purchasing these weak animals, we are also providing markets for the herders,” Mohammed stated.
The Secretary General also expressed concerns about how the drought has pushed families into suffering. He called on well-wishers to help raise resources to alleviate the families’ suffering.
“This drought has pushed communities to the brink and our call remains to all stakeholders and well-wishers to pull together and help alleviate under the bracket of those who need help.”
The Kenya Defence Forces will provide oversight in the implementation of the program and will continue to ensure that the exercise is carried out across the 13 counties without hitches.
KDF is mandated to purchase cattle, sheep, and goats from farmers across the country and is the last buyer option during droughts. It helps farmers to sell their livestock through commercial offtake or ground slaughter.
The Kenya Meat Commission Commissioner General, Brig James Githaga, said KDF will continue to support farmers to slaughter and distribute the meat to needy families.
“The welfare of Kenyan livestock farmers is at the heart of Kenya Meat Commission. We will support the purchasing power of households and accelerate destocking to improve the national security of the resource-based conflict in the affected counties,” Brig Githaga stated.
The ongoing ground slaughter livestock offtake program – which is funded by the government – will enable the Commission through the partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society to reach as many farmers as possible within a short period.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
