The state has initiated a Ksh2.1 billion (16.22 million) contingency plan to protect livestock farmers and pastoralists from the expected adverse effects of El Niño weather.

(The currency conversion is based on current exchange rate of $1 = Ksh129)

Interventions targeting disease control, livestock evacuation, animal welfare and the protection of critical infrastructure are a part of the plan.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe launched the National Livestock Sector El Niño Preparedness and Anticipatory Action Plan in Isiolo County, saying the initiative would enable the government to act before disasters occur rather than wait to respond after losses have been recorded.

Mr Kagwe said the plan comes amid advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department indicating an increased likelihood of enhanced rainfall, flooding and flash-floods in several parts of the country.

The minister the government is keen on ensuring that livestock farmers and pastoral communities were adequately prepared, particularly in areas where livestock forms the main source of livelihood and household income.

“The preparedness programme will initially cover 24 counties considered vulnerable because of their exposure to flooding and their high livestock populations,” he added.

The counties are 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.

He revealed the government would add more counties in the programme depending on emerging weather forecasts and subsequent advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department.

The cabinet secretary said the preparedness measures are informed by the devastating effects of the 2023 El Niño rains and the 2024 long-rains floods, which resulted in the loss of livestock, destruction of vital infrastructure and outbreaks of diseases that negatively affected the livestock sector.

He explained that the experience demonstrated the need for a proactive approach to disaster management, particularly in communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on livestock.

 “We therefore need to learn from our experiences and ensure that our farmers and pastoralists are not caught unprepared,” he said.

The minister said the government’s approach was designed to minimise losses by deploying resources and emergency interventions before the effects of extreme weather became widespread.

The largest share of the Ksh1.5 billion budget will be allocated to the procurement and pre-positioning of vaccines, veterinary medicines, laboratory reagents, personal protective equipment, mobile veterinary clinics and emergency response kits in the targeted counties.

The supplies will be strategically positioned to enable veterinary teams to respond quickly when disease outbreaks or other livestock emergencies occur.

The intervention will also focus on diseases whose spread can be aggravated by flooding. Among them is Rift Valley Fever, which can pose a greater threat during periods of prolonged rainfall because of increased populations of disease-carrying vectors.

A further Ksh250 million will be spent on protecting critical livestock infrastructure from the effects of flooding and other extreme weather conditions. The facilities targeted include cattle dips, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, milk-cooling facilities, veterinary laboratories and feed stores.

Mr Kagwe noted that safeguarding such infrastructure was necessary to ensure that livestock value chains remained operational even when communities experienced severe weather.

The government has also allocated Ksh100 million to strengthen early warning systems, climate-risk mapping, emergency communication networks and coordination among agencies involved in disaster response.

Another Ksh100 million will support livestock evacuation, animal welfare and logistics operations, particularly in areas where rising water levels or flooding may force communities to move animals to safer locations.

The plan further provides Ksh50 million for the establishment of strategic feed and fodder reserves, rehabilitation of water points and emergency water supply arrangements.

An additional Ksh100 million will support farmer awareness campaigns, promotion of biosecurity measures, livestock insurance awareness, commercial offtake operations and contingency planning. The cabbing secretary said these measures would help farmers make informed decisions and reduce the vulnerability of their animals during periods of extreme weather.

“Livestock is the primary livelihood asset for millions of Kenyan households, particularly in our arid and semi-arid regions,” he said.

During his visit to Isiolo, Kagwe also launched the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) drive, which he said would play a significant role in combating livestock theft and improving the competitiveness of Kenyan livestock and livestock products.

The system will provide information on the origin, movement and health status of animals that will enable authorities and other stakeholders to trace livestock throughout the value chain.

Mr Kagwe said the system would make it increasingly difficult for stolen animals to be introduced into legitimate livestock markets because animals without proper identification would progressively face restrictions in formal trading channels. He issued a stern warning to cattle rustlers, telling them to “find another business” as the identification and traceability system would make it harder for stolen animals to be sold.

He called on security agencies to take action against suspected stock thieves, including individuals accused of deliberately mutilating the ears of animals in an attempt to remove ANITRAC tags and conceal their identity.

He said such practices undermined efforts to secure the livestock sector and could also compromise efforts to guarantee the safety and traceability of meat and other livestock products.

Beyond combating livestock theft, the minister said ANITRAC would help Kenya meet requirements in both domestic and international markets. He said having reliable information about an animal’s history would strengthen food safety measures, improve disease surveillance and give consumers and international buyers greater confidence in Kenyan livestock products.

Mr. Kagwe said the system would be particularly important as Kenya seeks to expand its presence in premium export markets. He noted that combining animal traceability with vaccination, structured livestock aggregation and modern processing facilities would enable livestock keepers to meet specific market requirements and secure better returns. The minister noted that farmers would be better positioned to access higher-value markets once animals are verified for their origin, health status and movement history.

The launch of ANITRAC came as Kagwe inspected the Isiolo international abattoir, a major facility expected to strengthen the county’s role in livestock processing and exports.

Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, who accompanied Kagwe during the inspection tour, said the government’s livestock vaccination programme is already strengthening the country’s preparedness against animal diseases while supporting efforts to expand export markets.

Mr Mueke said more than 20 million cattle, sheep and goats had been vaccinated nationwide, describing vaccination as an important component of improving animal health and meeting the requirements of international buyers. He said the Government would continue working with counties and other stakeholders to strengthen disease prevention and surveillance.

The El Niño preparedness programme will be implemented under the One Health framework, which brings together human, animal and environmental health surveillance. The approach is intended to improve coordination in dealing with zoonotic diseases and other health risks that can increase during flooding and other extreme weather events.

Isiolo County Secretary Dade Boru said the county government would work with the national government to strengthen security around the livestock facilities in the county. Mr Boru said plans are underway to establish a police post at the Isiolo livestock holding ground to enhance security for livestock traders and workers at the feedlot and abattoir.

He said improved security would be essential as livestock trading and processing activities expand, particularly with the expected operationalisation and launch of the international abattoir. He also said the county livestock department would work to ensure that vaccination campaigns were successfully carried out across the county.

Boru noted that maintaining healthy livestock would be critical to ensuring that meat from Isiolo met the standards required for entry into international markets. According to Boru, collaboration between the county and national governments would help reduce livestock mortality, strengthen disease prevention and safeguard livestock markets and value chains.

The county administration, he added, would continue supporting measures aimed at improving the livestock sector and ensuring farmers benefit from expanding domestic and export opportunities.

The government expects the preparedness plan, together with the ANITRAC system and ongoing vaccination efforts to reduce livestock losses during extreme weather, contain disease outbreaks and strengthen the resilience of communities that depend on livestock.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By David Nduro