Pastoralists in Lamu are seeking compensation from the government for their livestock that died due to drought.
They say the money will enable them to restock and pick up their lives and cushion them from similar disasters.
The worst affected areas that lost the greatest number of livestock are Hindi, Bar’goni, Mkunumbi, Koreni and Pangani.
Others are Lumshi, Kitumbini, Nagelle, Chalaluma, Moa, Dide Waride, and Witu in Lamu west.
At least 5,000 heads of livestock, including cattle, goats and sheep died because of drought, leaving pastoralists counting massive losses and disruption of livelihoods.
The communities depend entirely on pastoralism for survival and the losses incurred have left a huge gap on their only source of living.
Lamu pastoralists spokesperson Mohamed Gullo said the compensation will enable them to find alternative livelihoods even as they seek to restock their lost livestock.
“We lost thousands of animals and because we depend on this form of farming for survival, we are asking the government to consider compensating us to enable us recover and move on,” Gullo said.
A planned Sh30 million slaughter-to-destock programme in the county targeting more than 10,000 livestock that are at risk of dying has failed to take off.
The exercise was to be undertaken by the National Drought Management Authority (Lamu office), and was to commence in early October last year to avert more livestock deaths.
A scheduled commercial off take targeting at least 15,000 cattle in areas adversely affected by the drought in the same month also did not take place.
At least 25,000 pastoralist households had been targeted for the National Livestock Insurance project that was to happen in December last year.
"We really hoped the programmes would happen but they didn't and we lost so many of our animals as a result. That's why we feel the government should direct the funds to compensation," he added.
Such programmes are generally meant to reduce pressure on pasture lands and water sources and also reduce the number of livestock perishing because of the ravaging drought in all the affected regions.
The slaughter-to-destock programme had especially been seen as a relief as it would have saved them millions in the loss of their livestock.
Commenting on the matter, Lamu county NDMA coordinator Mohamed Dahir said the delays in the implementation of the programmes was because they had not been approved by the Ministry of Livestock.
He said funds for drought-related issues had been channelled to the ministry and not the NDMA as has been the norm.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
