The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has called on pastoral communities in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) to diversify their income sources.
The move is aimed at improving livelihoods and enhancing economic activities in the region, which has traditionally relied solely on livestock keeping.
Communities have been urged to commercialize livestock for economic gain rather than viewing it as a prestige or cultural symbol.
According to Losenge Koolik, Assistant Drought Information Officer in charge of Samburu, selling mature and well-fattened livestock can fetch good prices in the market and enable communities to cater for household needs while also serving as a cautionary measure in case of disasters.
Koolik’s sentiments come at a time when ASALs areas are recovering from drought that was said to be the worst in 40 years, causing major losses of livestock and wildlife.
In Samburu, the drought caused death of 10 percent of the cattle population, 5 percent of sheep, and 2 percent each for goats and camels between March and July 2022.
Koolik noted that climate change had worsened the shocks and disasters experienced in the ASALs areas.
The NDMA is currently restocking 650 goats to members of communities who were hardly hit by drought in Waso ward.
Speaking during the first Samburu county knowledge fair facilitated by United States Agency of international Development (USAID), Samburu Deputy Governor Gabriel Lenengwesi called on development partners to invest in the northern part of the county leveraging on its current peaceful situation.
He asked development partners to consider investments on sectors like health, medical services, water among others.
Area Assistant County Commissioner George Murage termed drought, conflicts, and hunger as some of the challenges that required attention in Samburu.
He said that the government was ready to work jointly with relevant stakeholders to address these challenges.
