Nairobi — Sh40 million has been set aside to buy domestic animals threatened by prolonged drought in parts of northern Kenya.

The Government will use money meant for relief food to buy some of the animals and feed them in designated ranches to prevent further deaths.

The Special Programmes ministry has given the Agricultural Development Corporation the money to buy between 3,500 and 4,000 cattle in Garissa, Isiolo and their environs in the pilot project which kicks off next week.

ADC managing director William Kirwa said the project could later cover the country's 22 arid and semi-arid districts depending to availability of funds.

Requested President

The parastatal will work hand-in-hand with the Livestock and Fisheries Development ministry in the project.

Recently, North Eastern Province leaders requested President Kibaki to order that the animals be sold as used to be done in the 1980s during such droughts. They made the request when the Head of State visited the area and when a delegation visited him at State House, Nairobi.

Mr Kirwa spoke at Kilimo House where Agriculture permanent secretary James Ongwae flagged off the organisation's 10 vehicles bought from Cooper Motor Corporation yesterday. The vehicles will be used transport ADC staff to affected areas to assess the situation.

The animals will be taken to the Galana Ranch at the Coast and the Muthara Ranch in Laikipia District.