Do Not Invest in Hooves is a Scam

The notion that pastoralists are poor is just but a fallacy and a lie. Beef is gold!

If you took your time and transversed the larger North Kenya you will witness the hidden multi-millionaires. 

Several kilometres from Nanyuki town resides a herder who lives the simplest life ever. His mobile housing will shock you, simple structures made of paper and sticks.

They reside together forming their traditional set up Manyattas. This specific pastoralist live happily with his two wives. Each wife in her stick paper house. 

We sit outside his elder's wife make shift manyatta, a dark guard with milk is brought to us. He shakes it and pours some into my cup. At first the appetite was not there because of houseflies all over. 

"Usishtuke nzi ni baraka (don't panic houseflies is a sign of blessings)," he said.

The wealth narration started. This Boma belongs to me and my brother. We are from a large from Samburu County, we are all over this larger plains of Samburu , Laikipia, Isiolo and Nyeri Counties.

"In our family we are 15 sons and each one of us own several herds of cattle. Personally I own 260 cows, over 500 sheep and goats. In my bank account I have a balance of Ksh. 6 Million. 

Every time I sell my livestock I have to give my father Ksh. 1,000/- for each cow sold. This is the money he gives to his grandchildren and our sisters who are not well up. 

I have chosen a different path of life of educating both my daughters and sons. My father never educated us (sons) something that has really affected us with time. My daughter was admitted to a national school in Nyeri. I value education because this is the best investment now. 

Someone like you who is educated, if you combine livestock keeping and your education you will be a multi- 

millionaire 

At this Boma I do sell manure to random buyers and I use that money to buy foodstuffs like Unga. The biggest challenge is banditry, right now there is plenty pasture and water but most pastoralists lost their livestock during the dry season. 

I lost Ksh. 3 million and quite a number of livestock in the last dry spell," said the herder. 

The story tale captured my attention that when I looked at the cup it was full of houseflies. I had to endure it because the Savannah millionaire was so inspiring. 

There is huge value in livestock keeping, no possibility of change this culture even in the next century. 

The only way is embracing it then investing more in pasture,water and security.