Nairobi, Feb. 16 -- Pastoralists from Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) have reaped up to Sh1.6 billion in insurance payouts from a government-backed project that was unveiled in October 2022 to cushion them from loss of livelihoods due to adverse drought conditions.

The De-Risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies (DRIVE) project was launched by the State Department for Livestock Development in conjunction with partners, including ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) and the World Bank Group.

In an update on the state of the scheme on Thursday, Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the number of pastoralists and their dependents covered by the financial arrangement currently...