Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke on 15th August 2024, officially launched the community mobilisers market linkages for the DRIVE project in Wajir county. De-risking inclusion and value enhancement of the pastoral Economies (DRIVE) Project is expected to benefit 375,000 pastoralists and their dependents, translating to about 2,400,000 people. This project aims at protecting pastoral economies against drought risk, increase financial inclusion of pastoralists and connect them with markets.
DRIVE project is being implemented in 21 ASAL counties where pastoralism type of farming is done. The implementing partners for the project are ZEPRE Reinsurance, Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) and the State Department for Livestock Development.
ZEPRE reinsurance has been able to coordinate 14 insurance companies, 14 banks, cooperatives, MFIs, NGOs and over 600 pastoral groups to deliver the insurance and savings services to the pastoralists. The insurance is targeting to be in 21 counties in the coming short rains seasons of October 2024.
Wajir county is among the 8 pilot counties for the Kenya livestock insurance company that managed to pay Kshs. 1.2 million. So far 14 counties have been reached for various livestock value chain activities like feedlots and fodder.
ZEPRE has up to now benefited 17,657 people in Wajir County with total benefits of Kshs. 349 million of (Government premium subsidy of Kshs. 269 million saving bonuses of Kshs. 94 million and insurance pay cuts of 86 million.
Those who accompanied the Principal Secretary during the event are the Governor Ahmed Abdulahi together with DRIVE partners from (ZEPRE) reinsurance and the Kenya Development Corporation Director General.
Photo: PS Jonathan Mueke consulting with Wajir Govenor Ahmed Abdullahi
The Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke disclosed to the Wajir community that the launch of the community mobilisers and market linkage is a creation of access to ready markets which is a bridge between subsistence livestock rearing and commercial livestock rearing.
The Government is very keen that through this program, the meat and leather value chains will be developed in an aim of expanding local and export market opportunities for increased incomes and economic growth.
