El Niño Alert: Govt Sets Aside Ksh2.1 Billion to Protect Livestock

The government of Kenya has unveiled a Ksh 2.1 billion plan to protect livestock farmers from the effects of El Niño rains that are expected across the country.

This follows advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department indicating an increased likelihood of enhanced rainfall, flooding, and flash floods in several counties.

Speaking during the launch in Isiolo County, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe noted the Government’s commitment to protecting Kenya’s livestock economy before losses occur.

“The 2023 El Niño and the 2024 long rains floods caused devastating losses to our livestock farmers, destroyed critical infrastructure and triggered disease outbreaks that set back the sector significantly,” he said.

Preventive Measures

According to Kagwe, the plan focuses on taking preventive measures before disasters strike rather than relying on recovery efforts afterward, targeting 24 counties that are highly vulnerable to flooding and have large livestock populations.

“We therefore need to learn from our experiences, and this is the reason we are determined to ensure that our farmers and pastoralists are not caught unprepared,” Kagwe said.

Also Read: WMO Forecasts Near-100% Chance El Niño Will Persist Through February 2027

The government has allocated Ksh 100 million to strengthen early warning systems, climate risk mapping, emergency communication networks, and coordination among relevant agencies to improve disaster preparedness.

Additionally, the biggest share of the funding, Ksh 1.5 billion, has been set aside for the procurement and pre-positioning of vaccines, veterinary medicines, laboratory reagents, personal protective equipment, mobile veterinary clinics, and emergency response kits across the targeted counties.

The investment aims to enhance prevention and rapid response to climate-sensitive diseases such as Rift Valley Fever, as well as the rise in disease-carrying vectors that often accompanies prolonged flooding.

Livestock Infrastructure

An additional Ksh 250 million has been allocated to safeguard key livestock infrastructure, including cattle dips, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, milk cooling facilities, veterinary laboratories, and feed storage facilities.

The plan also sets aside Ksh 100 million for livestock evacuation, animal welfare, and logistical support during emergencies, while KSh50 million will go towards building strategic feed and fodder reserves, restoring water points, and providing emergency water supplies.

Another Ksh 100 million will finance farmer awareness programmes, strengthen biosecurity measures, promote livestock insurance uptake, support commercial livestock offtake, and enhance contingency planning efforts.

An additional Ksh 100 million has been allocated to support farmer awareness initiatives, strengthen biosecurity measures, promote livestock insurance uptake, facilitate commercial livestock offtake, and enhance contingency planning.

One Health Framework

“Livestock is the primary livelihood asset for millions of Kenyan households, particularly in our arid and semi-arid regions. Protecting that asset during an extreme weather event is a matter of food security, economic stability, and national resilience,” Kagwe said.

The programme will initially target 24 counties, including Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Narok, Kajiado, Baringo, West Pokot, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Meru, and Embu, with more counties expected to be included based on ongoing advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department.

Also Read: Flood Hotspots Mapped as Govt Unveils 7 Measures Ahead of El Niño Rains

Further, the initiative will be implemented under the One Health framework, which brings together human, animal, and environmental health surveillance to better manage the heightened risk of zoonotic diseases during flooding.

Through the preparedness plan, the Government aims to minimise livestock deaths, curb disease outbreaks, safeguard livestock markets and value chains, and reduce the financial burden of post-disaster recovery on the national treasury.

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