Government offtake program targeting to buy 5,000 emaciated cows in Kajiado

The government has initiated its livestock offtake program that is targeting to buy 5,000 cows in all 25 wards in Kajiado county.

The program which is undertaken by the Kenya Meat Commission is targeting to buy emaciated cows and those that are still strong at a cost of Sh20,000 each.

Kajiado Ag. County Commissioner Harun Kamau told the Star on Monday the buying of the cows started last week, even though the national treasury has not released the money.

“Some Sh350million was set aside by the national government but has not been released. KMC is already taking the cows and recording the owners so they can be paid as soon as the money is released,” Kamau.

Kamau said they could not wait for the money to initiate the takeoff because by doing so, much more livestock would die.

“We are trying to save 200 cows from various homes in each of the 25 wards in the region as we continue to wait for the money from the county. They pledged Sh100million,” said Kamau.

This is happening as some areas in the county received light rains from Saturday to Sunday night.

Some 450,000 cows had died because of the ongoing drought by end of last week as more continue to succumb in livestock markets in Bissil and Isinya towns in the county.

Most of those taken to the markets in trucks rarely return home alive when they fail to get customers.

About two weeks ago, before the government’s livestock offtake, emaciated cows were sold at Sh500 each in the Bissil livestock market while sheep were sold at Sh100 each.

The Ag. County Commissioner said that even if the rains start now, many families will still require famine relief for another two months for the grass to grow.

“This also applies to the ruminant wild animals,” added Kamau.