At least 300 families in Kibish subcounty Turkana, have benefited from the Kenya Livestock Insurance Programme.
The pastoralists on Friday received cheques worth Sh1,688,148.
The objective of the programme is to protect livestock against the risks associated with drought effects, through satellite-based index insurance.
Under the programme which started in 2016, each beneficiary will get Sh5,684.
Turkana Agriculture Executive Philip Aemun said through the collaboration of county and KLIP, they have handed over the cheques to pastoralist at Napak village in Kibish ward.
“The total payout for Turkana county from 2016-2019 was Sh112,981,528.95 and benefited 2,502 countywide,” Aemun said.
He said the targeted beneficiaries are drawn from Turkana East, Kibish and Turkana South subcounties.
The official said a number of beneficiaries from Kapedo and other areas received their cheques last week.
Aemun said more funds had been budgeted in the next financial year to cater for pastoralist-based livelihoods that forms 60 per cent of residents of Turkana, who are traditionally nomads.
“To improve market access and trade for livestock keepers and other market players, the government had settled for Kaikor Saleyard because of its central location. The establishment of a drugs store in Lokamarinyang through a public-private partnership will help in livestock diseases control,” he said.
Aemun said to broaden the programme and accommodate more people will involve development of a County Livestock and Insurance bill, that is centered on disaster risk management.
“On issues of some beneficiaries missing the money due to loss of registered telecom lines and other network challenges, a new biometric system will be undertaken to capture data and update records for the second phase of the programme,” he said.
Acting Director for Livestock Production Bobby Ekadon outlined proposed programmes on strengthening livestock productivity and revealed that the biometric rollout will also address the gap created through death of identified beneficiaries.
David Ekitela, a resident of Napak and beneficiary of the programme, thanked the county government and KLIP for the support.
“We lost our animals that we depend on to support our livelihoods. Pastures and water sources dried up. We had lost hope. We thank the county and KLIP for the support. I have received at least Sh5,684 that I will use to restock my animals,” he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
