The Annual Kimalel Goat Auction is aimed at providing an easy market for farmers who have not been able to maximise returns from their livestock because of the multiple market intermediaries. Farmers also had an opportunity to exhibit their livestock, network as well as market their produce.

The KCB Foundation teamed up with the County Government of Baringo to hold the 2017 Annual Kimalel Goat Auction that attracted top business people, senior government officials and politicians.

Over Ksh24.9 Million was raised during this year’s Annual Kimalel Goat Auction, in Baringo County. The annual event which was attended by His Excellency Deputy President William Ruto, saw at least 2,081 goats sold where each goat fetched at least Ksh12,000.

Speaking during the event KCB Rift Valley Regional Manager Ms. Victoria Kamuren expressed the Bank’s commitment to supporting the livestock sector which remains a key contributor to Kenya’s economy.

“Our relationship with Baringo County on Livestock programme dates back to 2014 when KCB Foundation, through Mifugo Ni Mali programme, signed a partnership agreement with the County and provided Ksh 30 Million, interest free loan geared towards improving livestock productivity, value addition, business development and market access initiatives,” Ms Kamuren mentioned.

Mifugo Ni Mali is a livestock value chain programme that targets livestock keepers in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) with a view to commercialising the sector and transforming it into a vibrant segment where livestock producers can realise maximum returns.

Using market organisations through co-operatives and group ranches, livestock value chain enterprises are helped to address productivity, nutrition and husbandry challenges, and also gain access to discounted loans. It targets to reach producer organisations in livestock value chain in dairy, meat, honey and fish.

Like the previous years’ events, the 2017 Annual Kimalel Goat Auction aimed at providing an easy market for farmers who have not been able to optimise. Farmers also had an opportunity to exhibit their livestock, network as well as market their produce.

Deputy President William Ruto appealed to the local warring communities to embrace peace, saying that the Jubilee government will step up efforts to improve security in the region. In addition, he challenged livestock farmers to embrace modern farming methods to improve productivity.

“Since livestock farming is the mainstay of this area, it is crucial for farmers to embrace value addition initiatives to reap optimum yields from their livestock,” DP Ruto noted.

KCB Foundation has channeled more than Ksh 110 Million given as interest free loans to cooperative societies in various counties including Baringo. These monies are aimed at helping the farmers benefit from the commercialisation and refinement of the livestock value chain.

Apart from Baringo, KCB Foundation’s Mifugo Ni Mali programme has also benefited farmers in Taita Taveta, Narok, Kwale, Laikipia, Kilifi, Samburu, Tana River, Marsabit and Mombasa counties.

The Kenyan livestock sub-sector contributes approximately 12 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s agricultural output.

However, the livestock sub-sector has failed to develop to its full potential of a highly profitable commercial sector that provides high returns to the farmers due to various challenges including droughts, diseases due to open grazing, and poor breeds. In quarter 1/2017, the prolonged drought caused massive losses to livestock farmers, consequently depressing the earnings from livestock keepers across the country.

In 2016, close to Ksh 30 million was raised in the event which was led by the Deputy President.