County distributes Galla goats in a bid to empower residents economically

The County Government of Elgeyo-Marakwet has embarked on the distribution Galla goats to farmers in the region in a bid to empower them economically and avoid overliance on crop production.

Elgeyo-Marakwet County Governor Wisley Rotich said this is part of his administration's efforts to improve livestock breeds in the region for better household incomes in farming communities.

"Galla goats are known for their fast maturity. In around six months, they can attain good market prices, compared to local breeds that take up to one year and give birth twice a year," said Mr Rotich.

"This translates to bring faster income and direct improvement of livelihoods, what our wealth strategy aims," said Governor Rotich who oversaw the distribution of the goats at Soy North and Tambach wards.

The devolved unit targets that more than 1,000 farmers in Kerio Valley will benefit from the project by the end of the year which is expected to boost milk production.

Mr Rotich said the initiative is part of the economic empowerment programmes geared towards economic empowerment of the residents in the semi-arid region.

Most farmers have received the goats whose milk production capacity is between 3.8 and five(5) litres of milk per day with most of the beneficiaries being the youths and women groups.

"We call our people to focus on farm practices that are not capital and labour intensive to improve their income," said the County boss.

He noted that goat milk is on high demand the country with a litre currently going at Sh200 due to its high nutritional value.

Residents have welcomed the initiative which they said will also help curb rampant cases of insecurity in the region.

"Armed bandits from neighbouring communities have been raiding us and stealing our local livestock breeds. This will be impossible with the Galla goats which cannot walk for long distances," said Mr James Rono, a Tambach Ward resident.

Many parts of the North Rift region especially Kerio Valley have not known peace for the last two(2) years which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.

More than 100 people including security personnel were killed in 2023 alone, prompting the government to term six(6) banditry-prone counties in the region among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia, and Samburu as 'disturbed and dangerous'.

It then rolled out a massive security operation to restore calm in the area coordinated by police and assisted by the military.