Today in Isiolo County, the Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Karen Freeman, joined representatives of the Government of Kenya and of Isiolo County to launch a new livestock market and water system.  The livestock market will benefit more than 18,000 pastoralists, including young people. USAID has built 12 markets in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties as part of a 350 million dollar effort to mitigate the impact of the current drought and increase community resilience. 

A water system was also officially launched to provide drinking water for households and livestock, as well as sanitation and hygiene services that will benefit 450,000 people in arid counties in northern Kenya. 

USAID Mission Director Karen Freeman also announced that an additional 780 million KSH in funding to address disaster risk reduction, and expand market in Turkana, Wajir and Garissa. In her remarks, Director Freeman said, “At USAID, we know that people will take care of themselves and their families when they have the tools, knowledge and skills that are needed.”

As Kenya’s partner for over 50 years, the United States is committed to working with the Government of Kenya and counties like Isiolo to support the people affected by the drought and help them ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for themselves and their families.