Livestock farmers in Marsabit County are set to benefit from a Ksh 90 Million livestock wealth creation programme, following a new partnership deal with KCB Foundation. The deal will also see the introduction of a livestock tagging system, a process that allows farmers to monitor and keep updated records of their animals.

Speaking during the partnership agreement signing event held at KenCom House Nairobi, KCB Foundation Director, Jane Mwangi noted that the livestock sub sector has been coupled by numerous challenges that have adversely affected its contribution to the overall GDP of the country. She added that the Foundation was keen in investing in the sub sector to grow its output.

“We are targeting to roll out this livestock tagging process with a pilot of 10,000 livestock, and envision it will make it easier to keep a database of livestock that can be used to secure credit from financial institutions through livestock banking,” she said.

She added that the intervention would help in livestock traceability hence increase opportunities of securing international markets. She also pointed out that limited or no access to credit facilities has continued to hamper farmers’ productivity.

Traditionally, financial institutions in Kenya have failed to appreciate the potential of the agricultural sector and the realities related to production, commercial scale, road access and market linkages.

However, KCB Foundation through its Livestock development program Mifugo ni Mali, are determined to change the narrative by making lending to livestock farmers a significant and integral part of the company’s strategic agenda.

“Through our Mifugo ni Mali programme, we seek to promote a sustainable public – private partnership by providing livestock farmers with support through discounted credit across the livestock value chain. This will ensure that livestock farmers achieve optimum results with their trade,” said Ms. Mwangi.

Also at the event was the KCB Group Board Chairman Ngeny Biwott who emphasised the importance of Agriculture in the economic sector.

“Agriculture continues to play a critical role in the economic development of the country, with the livestock sub sector contributing 16.8% of the agricultural GDP and about 5% of the country’s GDP,” said Mr. Biwott.

He added that through this partnership, KCB Foundation seeks to promote a sustainable public- private partnership that will provide livestock farmers with the much needed support across the livestock value chain, hence ensuring that livestock farmers achieve optimum results with their trade.

Through supporting increased participation by the youth in agriculture by equipping them with relevant skills, the Foundation hopes to contribute to reducing the youth unemployment rate in Marsabit County.

“As a Foundation, we aim to positively impact the youth unemployment rate in Marsabit County, which currently stands at 65%, through supporting increased participation from the youth in agriculture by equipping them with relevant skills,” he said.

Marsabit County Governor H. E Amb. Ukur Yatani, lauded the efforts by the Foundation to support the county, pointing out the initiative would serve to enhance the lives of livestock farmers in the area.

“Livestock plays an important economic and socio-cultural role among many communities in the County as it contributes to food and cash needs of the farmers as well as providing employment opportunities,” he said

The Governor added that his Government is committed to continuous engagement with the private sector and development partners to drive the developmental agenda of the county in scaling agricultural finance.

Some of the livestock activities in the County range from beef production, dairy farming, hides and skins processing to apiculture.

The two year partnership that targets livestock keepers in the meat, dairy, leather, honey and fish value chains will see both partners invest a total of Ksh. 90 million, with KCB Foundation investing a total of Ksh. 30 million and the Marsabit County Government will invest Ksh. 60 million.

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For more information please contact Judith Sidi Odhiambo, KCB Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs on [email protected]

About KCB Foundation

The KCB Foundation was established in 2007 to implement the KCB Group Corporate Social Investments programs and to bring to life the Bank’s corporate value of caring for the community. KCB Foundation focuses its support on Enterprise Development, Education, Environment, Health and Humanitarian Aid. The Foundation supports community projects in Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.

About Mifugo Ni Mali

Mifugo Ni Mali is a livestock value chain development programme launched in 2014 by KCB Foundation, targeting livestock keepers in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), with the goal of commercializing the sector through a pro-poor model that ensures the livestock keepers retain a higher proportion of the final sale price of the animals. Mifugo Ni Mali is currently under implementation in in Baringo, Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Narok, Mombasa, Kilifi, Samburu and Laikipia Counties and pursues a PPP model where the participating county governments provide resources for the extension services, disease management and market upgrade whilst KCB Foundation supports the cooperatives to undertake business ventures and value addition for the benefit of their members.