Experts fault government on livestock development

The government has been criticized for failing to include the livestock sector in the use of the Sh6 billion Equalization Fund.

The regulations guiding the use of the fund, prepared by the National Treasury dictates that the money be spent by ministries that manage water, health, electricity and roads.

As a result, livestock experts have expressed concerns that livestock which is mainstay of 15 formerly marginalized counties had been left out.

The sector is the mainstay of 85 per cent of people in pastoralist areas.

On Tuesday, Kenya Markets Trust (KMT) livestock director Ali Hassan faulted the government for excluding the ‘crucial’ sector in pastoralist predominant areas.

“We are worried that the government’s move will affect the industry. We therefore urge the government to rethink its decision,” said Mr Hassan.

Currently, Kenya’s livestock domestic export figures are low with statistics from KMT indicating that the country only exported 200,000 heads of cattle in 2014 while Somalia and Ethiopia exported 4.5 million and 1.9 million cattle respectively in the same duration.

Leaders from marginalised counties have also rejected the Treasury’s move to dictate how the funds will be used on grounds that they were not involved in the decision.

At the same time, the KMT official expressed concerns over failure by both National and County governments to conduct census on livestock.

He said the country has been using estimated figures in terms of livestock population of 2009 and 2014.

“It is unfortunate that the country which is the biggest economy in East Africa (EA) region use estimated figures. Without the figures the country cannot plan effectively for better market industry in Kenya,” he added.

Out of 14 pastoralist counties, only Mandera has conducted livestock census.

Isiolo governor Godana Doyo attributed lack of adequate livestock market to mushrooming of satellite abattoirs in counties.