Govt starts slaughtering animals in Isiolo to mitigate drought effects

At least 100 heads of cattle have been slaughtered in Isiolo County as the government embarks on a livestock off-take program to cushion pastoral communities from incurring massive losses as a result of death of their animals due to the persistent drought in the region.

The Ksh 2.7 million exercise rolled out by the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) follows announcement by Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri, while distributing relief food two weeks ago in Ngaremara, Isiolo that the government will roll out the program in the region to mitigate the effects of drought in pastoral counties.

The CS announced that the government would purchase the emaciated animals, slaughter them and give them back to members of the affected community as part of a relief program.

He said that the initiative would ensure that at least 4,500 animals are slaughtered in Marsabit County and 4,000 in Isiolo County.

Each week, animals will be purchased at Ksh 25,000 from herders in Ngaremara, Kulamawe, Boji and Oldonyiro.

Hundreds of residents scrambled for free meat at the Isiolo slaughter-house where the animals were slaughtered before being transported to the far-flung areas of Ngaremara, Tractor and Ariemet.

Government institutions including Isiolo Prison, Isiolo Referral Hospital and schools also benefited from the program.

During distribution, other herders declined to take the meat saying the government pledged to purchase animals from them but instead bought from other areas.

Written by Erick Kombo