Kenyan herders whose 1,325 cows were confiscated and auctioned by Tanzania to be paid USD530,000
In November 2017, Tanzania confiscated and auctioned 1,325 cows from Kenya on grounds that they were illegally in the neighbouring country.
The Kenyan government has announced it would be releasing Sh53 million ($530,000) compensation package for the 22 farmers from Kajiado to cover their losses.
In November 2017, Tanzania confiscated and auctioned 1,325 cows from Kenya on grounds that they were illegally grazing in the country.
Days later Tanzania’s President John Magufuli would justify the action by publicly saying his country was not the region’s grazing field.
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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.
The director added that 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 delay in paying out the cash had been caused by the due diligence done to ensure the cheques went to the right beneficiaries.
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“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.
Local leaders have welcomed the financial compensation and said it would go a long way in helping 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.
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