KWALE —In a modest ceremony beneath the sweltering coastal sun, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani handed over dozens of dairy goats to local farmers part of a new project aimed at tackling poverty and hunger in the region.
The programme, launched in Tiwi Ward, Matuga Sub-County, will see 124 goats distributed to 118 farmers across Tiwi, Ramisi, and Kubo South wards. Valued at KSh 2.9 million, the initiative is meant to lift small-scale livestock keepers by boosting daily milk output and household earnings.
“This is about more than just giving goats,” Governor Achani told farmers at the event. “It’s about food on the table, better nutrition for our children, and money in your pockets.”
She said the goal is to raise milk production from just a quarter litre per day from local goats to over a litre per goat using improved dairy breeds.
“This might seem like a small shift,” she said, “but for a family, an extra litre of milk a day is the difference between selling something at the market or having enough for the home.”
The programme has been rolled out with exacting detail:
- Tiwi Ward: 42 goats to 36 beneficiaries
- Ramisi Ward: 42 goats to 42 beneficiaries
- Kubo South: 40 goats to 40 beneficiaries
Local ward leaders urged recipients to care for the animals responsibly.
“Let’s not sell the goats and later blame the government when we’re still poor,” said Tiwi Ward MCA Juma Mwachivyomo. “This is an opportunity to change our lives if we’re serious.”
Farmers like Ali Mwakutunza welcomed the project with open arms. “This will reduce poverty,” he said simply. “Now we have something to build from.”
Dairy goats have long been promoted by agricultural experts as a reliable way to improve rural food security, especially in regions where cattle are harder to keep due to space, cost, or climate.
The Kwale County government says it is not stopping with goats. The broader plan includes training, veterinary support, and follow-up visits to ensure the project delivers lasting benefits.
“This is not a one-off handout,” a county agriculture officer said. “We’re building something that should grow from generation to generation.”
With Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands increasingly vulnerable to drought and food shortages, small interventions like this are being seen as key tools in the fight against rural poverty one goat at a time.
