Government Unveils Sh2.1 Billion Plan to Protect Livestock Ahead of El Niño Rains

The Government has launched a Sh2.1 billion livestock preparedness plan to protect farmers and pastoral communities from the expected effects of the El Niño weather event.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the National Livestock Sector El Niño Preparedness and Anticipatory Action Plan will prioritise early interventions in 24 counties considered vulnerable to flooding and livestock losses.

The plan follows advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department indicating an increased likelihood of enhanced rainfall, flooding, flash floods and localised inundation in parts of the country.

Kagwe said the Government was seeking to act before disasters occur, drawing lessons from the 2023 El Niño rains and the 2024 long rains, which caused livestock deaths, damaged infrastructure and contributed to disease outbreaks.

The largest allocation of Sh1.5 billion will support the procurement and pre-positioning of vaccines, veterinary medicines, laboratory reagents, protective equipment and emergency response kits. Mobile veterinary clinics will also be deployed in targeted areas to improve the speed of disease prevention and response.

The Government is particularly concerned about climate-sensitive diseases such as Rift Valley fever, whose risks can increase when flooding creates favourable conditions for disease vectors.

A further Sh100 million will strengthen early warning systems, climate-risk mapping, emergency communication and coordination between agencies. Another Sh250 million will be used to protect critical livestock infrastructure, including cattle dips, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, milk cooling facilities, veterinary laboratories and feed stores.

The preparedness programme will also allocate Sh100 million for livestock evacuation, welfare and logistics during emergencies. Sh50 million will support strategic feed and fodder reserves, rehabilitation of water points and emergency water supplies.

An additional Sh100 million will fund farmer awareness campaigns, biosecurity measures, livestock insurance sensitisation, commercial livestock offtake and contingency planning.

The programme covers Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Narok, Kajiado, Baringo, West Pokot, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Meru and Embu. Other counties could be added depending on subsequent weather advisories.

The interventions will be implemented under the One Health framework, bringing together animal, human and environmental health surveillance. The approach is intended to improve preparedness for zoonotic diseases that can become more difficult to control during flooding.

Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, who accompanied Kagwe during an inspection of the Isiolo International Abattoir, said the Government’s vaccination campaign was already strengthening Kenya’s livestock export potential.

More than 20 million cattle, sheep and goats have been vaccinated nationally, according to Mueke. The programme is intended to improve animal health while helping Kenyan livestock products meet requirements in domestic and international markets.

During the Isiolo visit, Kagwe also launched the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) drive in the county. The system will provide information on the origin, movement and health status of livestock.

Kagwe said traceability would strengthen livestock security by making it harder for stolen animals to enter legitimate markets. He warned cattle rustlers that properly tagged animals would become increasingly difficult to trade illegally.

The Government expects the combination of vaccination, traceability, livestock aggregation and modern processing facilities such as the Isiolo Export Abattoir to improve the competitiveness of Kenya’s livestock sector.

The Sh2.1 billion preparedness plan is ultimately aimed at reducing livestock mortality, limiting disease outbreaks and protecting livestock markets and infrastructure before severe weather strikes. It is also expected to reduce the cost of recovering from climate-related disasters while protecting a critical source of income and food for millions of Kenyan households.