Kwale, Kenya – In the dusty hills of Kwale County, where rainfall is scarce and traditional farming has become a gamble, hope now bleats in pens and fields. More than 5,000 drought-resistant Galla goats have been handed out to local families a lifeline for many in Kenya’s parched south coast.
The goats were distributed this week by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani as part of a World Bank-backed initiative designed to strengthen food security and household incomes in the face of intensifying climate change.
“This is more than just livestock,” Governor Achani said during the launch. “It’s about giving our people a chance to rebuild their livelihoods where traditional farming no longer works.”
The goats, native to Kenya’s arid north and well-adapted to harsh conditions, have high yields in both meat and milk. Each of the 1,000 beneficiary families in Kinango, Samburu, Lunga Lunga and parts of Matuga Sub-county received several animals under the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMSFED) project.
For years, local herders have watched their traditional breeds dwindle under relentless drought. Many had little to fall back on.
Benjamin Guo, a 70-year-old farmer in Kilimangodo village, remembers those days all too well. “Our local goats barely survived. If we were lucky, we’d sell one for 4,000 shillings,” he said. “Now, with Galla goats, the story is changing.”
The new breed grows faster, fetches better prices, and requires less water and feed qualities that matter when every drop and coin counts. A goat can be ready for market in just four months, or bred within eight, according to farmers already seeing returns.
Umazi Mwabugo and Rai Ndoro, members of local farmer groups in Mwereni and Ndavaya, praised the programme’s early results. “We’ve never seen this kind of impact before,” said Mwabugo. “These goats are growing quickly and selling even faster.”
Roman Shera, the County Executive for Agriculture, encouraged recipients to use the support services offered by the county. “There’s more to gain when you know how to care for them properly,” he said. “Our officers are ready to guide farmers.”
The goat distribution is part of a larger county push to build climate resilience. With the effects of global warming already hitting hard, especially in Kenya’s coastal and semi-arid regions, officials are looking for solutions that work with not against the changing environment.
“This is not a handout,” Governor Achani told the crowd. “It’s a strategy a way to help our people stand strong through the droughts ahead.”
As climate patterns continue to shift, Kwale’s investment in goats might seem modest but to the families who now have a source of food, income and hope, it may be the most important bet yet.
