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The Governor's appearance also brought an end to a dispute over his failure to attend earlier committee sessions, with senators cancelling an arrest warrant that had been issued against him.
In Komgala, 102 cows were reported killed, while Nengardedi recorded 243 cows, 116 goats and 29 donkeys. Another 287 cows and 54 donkeys were reported killed at Lake Lash, while 132 cows died in Kapuru.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe told the Senate on Wednesday that the government had in the past failed to secure sufficient fodder reserves, with some facilities labelled as feedlots lacking basic requirements such as water and pasture.
Kagwe said Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta could raise output of cassava, cotton, milk, meat, cashew nuts and other agricultural products by three or four times.
Kenya Dairy Board chairperson Genesio Mugo against buying unpasteurised milk from hawkers and outlets that are not authorised to sell processed milk, saying such products could contain substances harmful to consumers.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the price of a kilogramme of certified seed had been reduced from Sh300 to Sh150, while a two-kilogramme pack will now retail at Sh300 instead of Sh600.
The committee made the proposals in a report tabled in the Senate, raising concerns that the Livestock Protection and Sustainability Bill, 2024 has placed too much attention on drought-related measures while giving less attention to other threats facing the livestock sector.
The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has warned that the expected return of El Niño could affect millions of people who rely on livestock for food and income if preparations are delayed.
According to submissions presented to senators, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries received Sh803.47 million during the 2025/26 financial year, with Sh585.45 million allocated for development programmes and Sh218.02 million for recurrent expenditure. The county said it spent Sh763.03 million, representing a 95 per cent absorption rate.
The report, released on August 6, 2026, shows that the agriculture sector had reinforced its position as the backbone of Kenya's economy, with the value of agricultural output rising from Sh3.64 trillion in 2024 to Sh4.07 trillion in 2025. It attributed the growth to consistent investments by county governments across key agricultural value chains, despite persistent challenges in some subsectors.
According to the report, high international demand for donkey hides has created a profitable market that is attracting criminal syndicates. Researchers found that the groups operate through illegal slaughterhouses and cross-border smuggling routes designed to avoid veterinary inspections and bypass regulations governing the leather industry.
State Department for Wildlife Director of Administration Vincent Ongere said the government had so far compensated more than 700 residents in Laikipia through the programme and was working to settle additional claims.