Wajir’s Sh296m Griftu Feedlot Project: A Lifeline for Pastoralists in the Face of Drought

Kenya, 11 November 2025 – The groundbreaking Griftu Water Pan for Feedlot Project that is ongoing in in Wajir West is expected to boost pastoral activities in Wajir County.

Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, flanked by Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho, and Principal Secretary for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development Kello Harsama, inspected the groundbreaking project on 6 November 2025.

Spanning 5,000 acres, the Sh296 million initiative is a multi-departmental effort to shield pastoralists from the ravages of drought through a large-scale livestock management system.

The feedlot will accommodate up to 15,000 livestock units, with a water storage capacity of 750,000 cubic metres – enough to sustain herds through prolonged dry spells.

Beyond drought mitigation, the project aims to commercialise livestock production, establish strategic pasture reserves, and bolster milk, meat, and agricultural value chains across the region.

“This will be a feedlot centre targeting the salvaging of our livestock during drought but it will also open up some farming for the community,” Governor Abdullahi stated during the site visit.

He added that the persistent problem the country faces is that where there is water, there is very little or no land left to do any meaningful agriculture, and where there is vast land, there is no enough water.

“We need to tap surface runoff to these earth dams and have decent dams in the ASALs. We should be able to feed ourselves comfortably as a country,” the county boss said.

PS Harsama said that during the 2020–2022 drought, the pastoral communities in Kenya lost over 2.5 million heads of cattle.

Officials project an annual economic output of Sh288 million, a transformative boost to food security and resilience for Wajir’s pastoral communities.

The feedlot model, now positioned as a national blueprint, integrates water harvesting, fodder production, and market linkages to stabilise incomes and reduce vulnerability in the ASALs.

Governor Abdullahi thanked President William Samoei Ruto for his steadfast leadership in climate resilience.

“The President’s vision and unwavering support have made projects like Griftu possible, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.

With construction progressing on schedule, the Griftu Feedlot is expected to serve as a replicable model for drought-proofing pastoral economies nationwide.

For Wajir’s herders, it represents hope – and a buffer against nature’s harshest seasons.