Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe has welcomed a new multimillion-dollar livestock initiative aimed at empowering young people in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).

Speaking after meeting Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officials led by Michael Ngutu, Malombe described the programme, Creating Shared Value with Young People in the Livestock Sector in Kenya’s ASALs (CASHA), as a timely intervention that will boost youth employment while revitalizing the livestock industry.

The five-year initiative, funded by the Mastercard Foundation with a budget of USD 39.8 million, will target 300,000 young people across 15 ASAL counties, including Kitui.

Implementation will be spread across four key clusters: Northrift, Lower Eastern, Upper Eastern, and North Eastern.

CASHA will pursue five pathways: strengthening technical and entrepreneurial skills of young women and men; improving market linkages; enhancing women’s voice, agency, and leadership; increasing financial access; and promoting climate-smart innovations.

Inclusivity lies at the heart of the programme, with 80% of beneficiaries expected to be young women.

In addition, 5% of slots will go to persons with disabilities and another 5% to internally displaced persons and refugees.

The initiative also aims to improve livestock health and resilience by enhancing disease control, supporting veterinary services, and promoting climate-smart practices that safeguard livelihoods in drought-prone regions.

Governor Malombe hailed the partnership, noting that livestock remains a cornerstone of Kitui’s economy. “This initiative will not only create jobs for our youth but also strengthen the resilience of our livestock sector in the face of climate change,” he said.

With implementation now set to begin, CASHA is being billed as one of the largest livestock-focused youth empowerment projects in the region, offering hope to thousands of young people facing unemployment and climate-related challenges.