Tanzania President John Magufuli. file photo | nmg
Kajiado farmers, whose cattle was sold in neighbouring Tanzania
for grazing across the border, have received big relief after the Kenyan
government released a Sh53 million compensation package for the loss.
The
22 farmers lost 1,325 animals after Tanzania confiscated and auctioned
them on grounds that they were illegally in the neighbouring country.
The Sh53 million compensation package translates to Sh40,000 for each animal lost in the raid.
Director
of Livestock Production Julius Kiptarus said Wednesday that the money
had been released from Nairobi for disbursement to farmers next week.
Mr Kiptarus said each farmer is being compensated at a flat rate
of Sh40,000 for every cow lost. He said a decision was made to pay the
farmers upon realising that most had been left destitute after their
only source of livelihood was wiped out with the confiscation of their
cattle.
Mr Kiptarus said the cheque was already with the county commissioner for disbursement to the farmers.
He
said delay in paying out the cash had been caused by the due diligence
done to ensure the cheques went to the right beneficiaries.
“We
had to do a fact finding mission to ascertain that the number of cattle
lost in the auction is the number that farmers claimed. We had to liase
with our Tanzanian counterparts to verify the facts and avert the entry
of imposters or exaggeration of the number of livestock lost,” Mr
Kiptarus said.
Kajiado
County commissioner David Kipkemei confirmed that he had received the
cheque and that the right cattle owners would be paid.
The
financial intervention has received support from local leaders who say
loss of animals had left the pastoralist families without a source of
livelihood.
“We are delighted that the government has
seen it fit to revive the livelihoods of our people who had been reduced
to abject poverty,” said Martin Moshisho, the deputy governor.
Mr
Moshisho said the county leadership had pleaded with local residents
not take the law into their hands and to comply with the law even as
they look for pasture and water for their cattle.
The
cattle were seized at the height of a cold war between Kenya and
Tanzania in a move that intensified mistrust along the common border.
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