At Kimana Market in Kajiado, Western Kenya, it is market day.
In an effort to draw potential customers, anxious farmers stand with their animals at various key locations.
In the past, they would have hoped to make a lot of money, but in recent months, they have been forced to sell their malnourished cows for throwaway prices every Tuesday. Today, some sought-after cows sell for as little as $10 (£8.60).
There hasn’t been enough pasture to feed the animals after two seasons of below-average rainfall; some are too frail to stand on their own, while others collapse and pass away as their owners wait for buyers.
James Ndondoti, a farmer, tells us that he was able to sell four cows. He used to sell his cows for $300 to $500 in good times, but today he only paid $150 for three of them and $80 for a calf.
“While there have been prior droughts, this one is the worst we have ever experienced. Because there is no grass, water, or anything else for our cattle to eat, they are dying, therefore we choose to sell them at a loss because we still have families to support, he said.
There is some hope that the brief rainy season may provide respite once it begins.
The farmers are concerned that most, if not all, of their animals will survive the month-long wait before the grass begins to grow.
