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{
"id": 263032,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/263032/?format=api",
"text_counter": 10,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwazo",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Livestock Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 101,
"legal_name": "Danson Mwazo Mwakulegwa",
"slug": "danson-mwazo"
},
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) My Ministry has been allocated Kshs2.198 billion for drought mitigation out of which Kshs1.53 billion was used to purchase livestock in the off-take programme while the Kshs668 million was used for other livestock intervention since 2008. (b) The Ministry has utilized the funds as follows:- From 2008 to 2010, the Ministry was allocated Kshs1.098 billion. We spent Kshs200 million on animal health interventions, Kshs240milion to purchase hay and feed supplements and Kshs100 million for transport and logistics for animals purchased by the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC). The KMC spent Kshs298 million out of which Kshs200 million was used to purchase 17,087 cattle while Kshs98 million was a grant to repair old machinery. The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) was given Kshs200 million for onward lending to ranchers and cattle traders for purposes of buying immature stock for fattening and to traders for buying cattle from the pastoralists. Under this arrangement, 375 individuals received the loans. In 2010/2011 Financial Year, the Ministry was allocated Kshs1.1 billion. From this amount, Kshs200 million was allocated to district savings groups in 81 drought stricken districts to purchase livestock which was then slaughtered and distributed as relief food. Under this arrangement, 9,278 cattle, 26,455 goats, 12,397 sheep, 95 camels and 6 donkeys were purchased. The AFC was further given Kshs427 million which was advanced as loans to ranchers and cattle traders where 405 individuals received the loans. The KMC was further given Kshs100 million which was used to purchase 4,120 cattle. (c) It is estimated that during the current drought in northern Kenya in the counties of Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Mandera, 178,048 cattle, 381,518 sheep, 254,346 goats and 6,104 camels died. The Ministry has undertaken several measures to address this situation as follows:- (i) The Ministry in collaboration with the Meteorological Department will alert farmers of looming adverse weather changes, so that they can decide to sell their livestock before the drought. (ii) We are in the process of constructing four abattoirs in Isiolo, Wajir, Garissa and West Pokot. They are all at different stages of completion with the Isiolo abattoir expected to be completed by May, 2012. We are also in the process of constructing other slaughter houses in Moyale, Mandera, Laisamis, Malaral, Ijara, Narok, Gatundu, Marigat, Mumias, Kuria, Loitoktok, Narumoro, Migori and Garsen. (iii) The Ministry has undertaken receding programme in the ASAL areas. In this programme, we have focused on 20 counties which include Wajir. Most areas earmarked for receding have received assorted grass seeds in the last two years. Wajir is expected to receive 1,000 kilograms of grass seed for planting before the long rains."
}