Poor coordination and inadequate resources are some of the reasons why the government has failed to end drought in Asals.
Asals and Regional Development PS Harsama Kello said most non-state actors operating in the counties often have misplaced priorities.
Kello spoke during the last day of the pastoral leadership summit in Wajir. While responding to panellists examining the historical patterns of drought in Asals, the PS said the framework developed by national and county governments in collaboration with development partners was well-conceived but poorly executed.
“We need to enhance coordination and resource mobilisation to make the EDE plan effective. Thousands of non-state actors operate in Asal counties but often invest in misplaced priorities,” he said.
Kello cited an NGO spending Sh40 million to count non-functional boreholes in Turkana County as an example.
“In Turkana, we have 200 organisations, while Marsabit and Wajir host more than 300 NGOs.
Many of these funds are misdirected. We need collective efforts and a better harnessing of resources to implement plans that will end reliance on emergency drought responses,” he said.
The PS said the government is currently committed to establishing 450 feedlots nationwide and plans to place 5,000 hectares of land under pasture to mitigate the impact of drought on pastoralist communities.
Kello called for renewed investment in the EDE plan to address drought. He also outlined government plans to build mega dams in Asal counties, positioning the region as Kenya’s next frontier for food production.
“The Asal region has vast, productive land suitable for food production. With land diminishing in other parts of Kenya due to increasing population, the government views Asal as the future breadbasket for the nation,” he told a panel headed by Garissa Governor Nathif Jama.
Officials from the National Drought Management Authority led by their chairperson Shallow Abdullahi were also questioned on their role in drought intervention programmes and implementation of the EDE plan.
Abdullahi said while the EDE framework is robust, its implementation is hampered by inadequate resources.
“You can have a fantastic framework, but implementation requires resources. Not much has been done due to lack of adequate funding,” he said.
Abdullahi highlighted the Kona Dam in Tana River County as one of NDMA’s drought intervention initiatives
The dam supports fodder production for livestock.
Abdullahi said insufficient re-source allocation continues to hinder the achievement of their mandate.
Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memu is demonstrated a feedlot project he initiated in Kajiado, calling for counties in Asal regions to engage in fodder production as a mitigation measure.
“It is very possible to end drought emergencies. We need to embrace fodder production and technology,” he said.
He said Asals have vast land for fodder production for their livestock and exporting to other countries.
One acre can feed 25 heads of cattle, urging counties to embrace food production and fodder banks.
The summit’s afternoon session
focused on finding long-term solutions to challenges in pastoralist
areas, including resolving conflicts,
developing the livestock sector.
