Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon. Eugene Wamalwa and his counterpart in the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs, and Special Programmes Professor Margret Kobia on Wednesday, 08 December 2021 witnessed the signing of a project agreement between the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) and the Kenya Red Cross at Defence Headquarters in Nairobi.
The project is aimed at enhancing the offtake program of livestock in 23 counties in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) from farmers in the drought-stricken regions following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on 20 October 2021 during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Hon. Wamalwa lauded the program saying families facing acute starvation shall be reached by the relief food and money from the government in the coming days.
“The government has made deliberate interventions to alleviate hunger on people by buying off the cattle from the farmers through KMC, slaughtering the animals and distributing the meat to the affected families in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross,” said Defence CS.
Professor Kobia, in whose ASALs docket lies welcomed the move saying the project shall go a long way in saving lives of people and livestock due to depletion of pastures as a result of unpredictable rains. The farmers shall be paid through mobile-money cash transfer for destocking purposes to alleviate the risks of pilferage and enhance oversight and accountability.
The event was attended by the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Francis Ogolla, KMC Chairman Lieutenant General (Rtd) Joseph Kasaon, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Social Protection, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes Nelson Marwa, alongside other senior officials from the MoD and the Kenya Red Cross.
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