30,000 sheep sold in Ethiopia, Marsabit governor says

What you need to know:

  • Thousands of livestock from the vast county, which relies mainly on pastoralism, have also been sold in Nairobi.
  • To promote cross border trade with Ethiopia, the governor signed a programme for sustainable peace and socio-economic transformation deal funded by United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).
  • The county government bought greenhouses and started hundreds of kitchen gardens for production of kales, tomatoes and sweet potatoes in Marsabit central wards and 360 polysacs and 10 shade-nets for kitchen gardening in the arid North Horr and Laisamis sub counties.

Over 30,000 sheep from Marsabit County have been sold in Ethiopia in the past three years, Governor Ukur Yattani has said.

Thousands of livestock from the vast county, which relies mainly on pastoralism, have also been sold in Nairobi.

To promote cross border trade with Ethiopia, the governor signed a programme for sustainable peace and socio-economic transformation deal funded by United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).

“Market survey and negotiations have been exhaustively done both in Ethiopia and Middle East,” Mr Yattani said.

An international airport set to be opened in neighbouring Isiolo in January 2017, is expected to boost the exports.

Listing his achievements, Mr Yattani said 14 market stalls had been built across the county.

“This is in addition to ultra-modern market being built in Marsabit town. The market which is at completion stage will house 750 traders,” he said.

Marsabit was a perpetual relief food dependent county before 2013.

From 2013 to 2015 the county acquired 10 tractors which increased farm acreage coverage from 400ha to 1500ha.

Presently 8040ha of land with estimated crop production of maize and beans of six and four bags per hectare respectively has been opened up.

“Marsabit County is regaining its food sufficiency status of 1980s in just three years,” he said.

The county government bought greenhouses and started hundreds of kitchen gardens for production of kales, tomatoes and sweet potatoes in Marsabit central wards and 360 polysacs and 10 shade-nets for kitchen gardening in the arid North Horr and Laisamis sub counties.

The campaigns for community resilience and creating culture of self-sufficiency is slowly gaining as hundreds of acres of land open up for farming.

Tribal skirmishes which were common in Marsabit have reduced drastically.

Eight conservancies have been established and supported by the county government as a way of mitigating wildlife conservancy and ending cross border armed poaching and stock thefts.

To preempt pastoralists’ conflicts, 30 boreholes and six medium mega dams and 20 earth pans have been constructed, improving human and livestock access to water.

Mr Yattani’s administration which has won accolades for allocating 30 per cent of budget to health has started two Level IV hospitals, increased maternity wards from two to 18 and 23 dispensaries built.

Moyale, Marsabit and Kalacha hospitals are installed with ultra-modern theatre machines which include hematology analyzer, biochemistry analyzer, anaesthetic, diathermy, portable ultrasound, and patient monitors for anaesthetic machines.

Emergency ambulance services acquired by the county and stationed across all wards have improved access to health services and saved hundreds of lives.

A Sh600 million regional laboratory for human and animal health is being built at the Marsabit county referral hospital.

Mr Yattani who is seeking re-election in next year’s polls says he should be given a second term to complete the projects he had initiated.

The county government expects to open a medical training college after next year’s polls. A university task force is to present its recommendations to determine suitability of location where the university will be built.