Wajir ramps up preparations for pastoralists summit this week
The summit is expected to attract 450 delegates
16d agoSTEPHEN ASTARIKONorth-eastern
The pastoralist leadership has been urged to effectively address financial and policy challenges hindering the full realisation of the economic potential of pastoralist peoples and regions.
Speaking in Wajir during the closing ceremony of the 4th pastoralist leadership summit [PLS] on Tuesday, President William Ruto highlighted drought emergencies, scaling up fodder production, formulating a camel value chain strategy, privatizing livestock vaccines, and improving the overall livestock sector as key areas that call for strategic attention.
Livestock production is the dominant economic activity in the pastoral counties and plays an integral role in driving the local economy.
More than 80 per cent of the population in the 14 counties depends on livestock for their livelihoods and food security.
Aware of these facts, President Ruto said the summit is a critical forum for advancing key agendas, and its legacy reflects positive impacts.
“Your deliberations are not in vain because we are a responsive government committed to delivering economic transformation aligned with the people's aspirations. Therefore, when leaders strike consensus, the government must act,” he said.
He said that the policy and institutional outcomes of past summits include the implementation of the Equalization Fund, the Livestock Marketing Board, and the National Livestock Insurance Programme.
Ruto further reiterated the importance of modernisation of pastoralist economies, saying that this can be achieved by promoting the adoption of modern cooperative frameworks to manage production and increase the productivity of livestock and natural resource value chains. In this connection.
He disclosed that he had instructed the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives to strengthen cooperative movements in Northern Kenya and work with counties to train those responsible.
He said the Equalization Fund continues to mitigate marginalisation, having supported 1,236 projects in 34 counties and directly impacting over six million Kenyans through initiatives such as borehole drilling, health facility upgrades, and construction of classrooms.
Recognising persistent disparities in ASAL regions, President Ruto said the government launched the $2 billion North and North Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI) to address historical neglect and promote inclusive growth.
To enhance its effectiveness going forward, Ruto said he has directed that its implementation be coordinated under his office.
“In line with our strong partnership with pastoral communities and our strategic commitment to unlocking the potential of arid and semi-arid rangelands and other pastoral areas, I commit that the resolutions of this summit will be translated into collaborative action. This will involve coordination with parliamentary caucuses and the leadership of county governments,” he said.
The summit, themed ‘Unlocking Policy and Financial Bottlenecks to Mainstream Pastoralism in Kenya' brought together leaders and stakeholders from 15 pastoralist counties across Kenya.
