GERMANY SUPPORTS MARGNILISED COUNTY’S AGRICULTURE BY KEPHER OTIENO The German Development Cooperation has disbursed about 23 million Euros to strengthen drought resilience and food security, mainly in Marsabit and Turkana counties. The donations follows increased bilateral relations between the two countries that have seen Germany increase its increase Foreign Direct Investments in Kenya to stimulate our domestic economy. The German Ambassador Andreas Perscheke assured Kenyans of continued cooperation while handing over 20 motorbikes to Marsabit County Governor Ukur Yatani to improve agricultural extension services. Over the years, Marsabit and Turkana counties have been affected repeatedly by severe droughts, leading to shortage of food, a trend that the Germans are keen to help Kenyans to rationalize. Peschke said the German Government would also provide more investments in order to improve water provision and enhance food production, soil rehabilitation and market infrastructure development. They also promised to reinforce capacity building for Kenyans to improve our human capital resource. Marsabit leaders and residents hailed the move as the right step toward socio- economic resilience of the hitherto marginalized counties. The Technical Cooperation Programme tagged “Drought resilience in Northern Kenya” to be implemented by the GIZ will run up to 2016 and pursue three goals. According to Peschke, the first target is the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries expert who will be identified to receive advisory services on agricultural policies and devolution. Thereafter, the county specific development and investment plans will be designed to improve drought resilience. Finally, German Development Cooperation will provide technology transfer and small grants on an individual level to assure livelihoods of farmers and cattle owners. The two countries have agreed on making agriculture, drought resilience and food security a focal area of Development Cooperation. Yatani thanked the German Embassy for their generous contribution to Kenya and urged other Embassies to emulate them. He urged investors to tap the abundant opportunities available in the area.
He also asked tourists to visit the region and explore its scenic beauty. Marsabit is home to Koobi-Fora where the tools of the first man was discovered, Sibiloi National Park where the biggest elephant lived and Lake Turkana-the largest desert Lake in the World. End‌