KVDA distributes camels to fight drought

PARKLEA IVOR-KNA

West Pokot County is grappling with one of its harshest droughts in recent years, with thousands of families in the arid parts of the county facing hunger as prolonged dry conditions continue to ravage livelihoods.

In Tkiit Village, Masol Ward in Pokot Central Sub-County, the once expansive grazing fields have turned into dusty plains while rivers and seasonal water pans have dried up, forcing pastoralists to travel long distances in search of water and pasture for their livestock.

For many families whose livelihoods depend entirely on livestock, the drought has become more than an environmental challenge, and it is now a humanitarian crisis.

Residents say the prolonged lack of rainfall has weakened their animals, drastically reduced milk production and led to livestock deaths, leaving many households without a reliable source of food or income.

The situation is particularly dire in Pokot Central and North Pokot sub-counties, where communities continue to battle acute water shortages and shrinking grazing fields.

As the drought tightens its grip, some families have been forced to migrate with their live stock to neighbouring counties including Baringo, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet in search of pasture, while others have moved closer to trading centres hoping to access government food relief and humanitarian assistance.

Women and children remain the most affected, spending hours every day walking long distances to fetch water while also queuing for food aid.

Local leaders warn that unless the situation improves soon, cases of malnutrition, live stock deaths and food insecurity are likely to escalate.

Pokot Central Deputy County Commissioner Philip Mbuvi said approximately 60,000 residents in the affected areas are currently facing severe food shortages due to the prolonged drought.

“Our office is working closely with the humanitarian agencies to mobilize food assistance, water supplies and drought-resilient livestock to support affected households,” said Mbuvi. 

He noted that the government has also rolled out a school feeding programme to ensure children continue attending classes despite the difficult conditions.

“The programme has greatly helped sustain learners and we have not recorded school dropouts due to hunger,” he added.

In an effort to strengthen climate resilience among pastoral communities, the government, through the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), has distributed 100 drought-resistant camels to residents of Tkiit Village under a livelihood improvement programme.

The initiative seeks to diversify livestock production by intro ducing animals that are better adapted to harsh climatic con ditions where cattle, sheep and goats struggle to survive.

Speaking during the launch, Sigor Member of Parliament Peter Lochakapong, who also chairs the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Regional Develop ment, described the programme as a timely intervention for vul nerable communities affected by recurring droughts.

“We are happy that the gov ernment has come up with this programme to cushion our people against the devastating effects of drought. Camels are well suited to this environment because they require less water, can survive prolonged dry spells and provide nutritious milk that can also gen erate income for households,” said Lochakapong.

He urged beneficiaries to properly care for the animals to ensure they reproduce, enabling future generations to benefit from the programme through the distribution of offspring to more households.

KVDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Moses Kipchumba said the camel distribution programme forms part of a broader livelihood improvement strategy targeting communities living in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

He explained that water scarcity has become a perennial challenge in the area, making camel farming a practical and sustainable alternative for pastoral households.

“We have handed over 100 camels comprising 90 females and 10 males. The objective is for these animals to multiply, after which their offspring will be distributed to more families within the community,” Kipchumba said.