The Society has recently launched a livestock destocking and water trucking program in the arid districts of Marsabit and Moyale.

A delegation led by the Kenya Red Cross Head of Disaster Management, Abdikadir Othowai, visited a number of drought-stricken villages. The news that the society will undertake a destocking program became music to the ears of many of the pastoralists in the villages of Burgabo and Turbi.

While launching the program, Othowai said the society will spend way over 50 million shillings in the water trucking program. He said the de-stocking programs, which involves buying livestock from the pastoralists at relatively higher price than the market price will mitigate some of the effects of the drought.

“We are buying a goat for sh2000 above the market price, which is now roughly sh500, and then we slaughter the goat and redistribute the meat to the households. So we are injecting cash to the local economy and at the same time feed the hungry population,” said Abdishakur.

He explained that the process of slaughtering animal is done in consultation with local vertinary and public health officials in a bid to ascertain the distributed food are fit for human consumption.

“It is paramount that the goats slaughtered are fit for human consumption so in every instance an inspection is done by vet officer who ascertains whether the animals are fit, then this confirmed by the public health official,” he said.

In Marsabit, where 70 percent of the population of about 200,000 population are affected by the drought, the Kenya Red Cross targets to reach 3200 households in the de-stocking program which will run for two weeks. “The Kenya Red Cross would also supply water to about 500 families on a daily basis and expected to run for about six months,” said Othowai.

However, Othowai, called on donors and well wishers to step up their contribution to the Kenya Red Cross. The society is also expected to undertake similar water trucking and de-stocking program in Turkana, Wajir and Mandera.

“This is part of our response to mitigate the effects of this drought. We are also planning to launch school feeding programs to ensure that kids stay in school,” said Nelly Muluka, PR and Communications Manager at Kenya Red Cross Society.

In a news conference last month Livestock Development Minister, Mohamed Kuti, said some six million cattles, 16 million sheep and goats are at risk.
Treasury is yet to respond to an appeal made by the Livestock Ministry for 1.5 billion shilling to save thousands of people and their livestock from starvation.

About 1.5 million Kenyans are currently facing starvation; a figure which the government says will double in the next three months.

Meanwhile, the government has established a toll free line for victims affected by the drought. Special Programmes Minister Esther Murugi launched number 109 as the Famine Relief Helpline to receive distress calls 24 hours a day and seven days a week to boost the fight against drought.

"The line will help us address the effects of drought in a robust way. Each day the line will receive calls from Kenyans in drought-hit areas. We will then have a detailed report of where assistance is needed most," said Murugi. The call centre will be managed by a private firm called KenCall, the government will spend five million shillings in running the centre.