Residents in Garissa use trucks to ferry water to emaciated livestock

GARISSA,Kenya, Sep, 12 – Millions of Kenyans continue to be affected by the ongoing drought with the government now revealing the number of those affected could possibly double from the current two million according to recorded statistics if the expected short rains in October fail.

In Shantabak, Lagdera sub county, residents have been forced to seek innovative ways to keep their livestock alive after water pans dried up and pasture became scarce.

Abdikadir Maamud, a herder in the area says that the residents have been forced to use water trucks to deliver water to grazing areas since their animals have become emaciated and can barely walk.

“In the last two months,  there has been a severe drought in this area.  A few of our remaining cows, goats and donkeys are at least 25 kilometers away and they can not make it here to drink water,” Said Abdikadir.

Further some residents have decided to traverse inter-county borders in search of the precious commodity in a bid to avert a disaster.

“Though some have managed to look for water and bring directly to their animals getting pasture is still a huge concern,” he said.

The residents are now calling the government to hasten the relief exercise in order to cushion them from the adverse effects of the drought.

Concerns about disease infestation is also looming in the area with livestock carcasses strewn in the area.

Meanwhile Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa revealed that four counties have counties have been scaled up to the ‘alarm stage’  as a result of the harsh weather.

The counties include: Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Garissa.

“We have ten counties that have been adversely affected by the drought and of the number four have been scaled up to the alarm stage. “The President has already declared the drought as a disaster and we are appealing to parliament to fast track the disaster risk management bill into law to address the current situation,” said Wamalwa.

Garissa is set to receive at least 12,000 bags of animal feed from the government in order to enable livestock to survive the drought. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta declared drought, that is affecting parts of the country a national disaster.

Consequently, the President has instructed the National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to spearhead Government efforts to assist affected households including water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.

“More details of the Government’s comprehensive drought mitigation measures will be unveiled in due course,” said State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo in statement.

The government has also denied claims that Kenyans have died as a result of the drought instead saying any death in the affected counties is as a result of COVID-19.

The government has established a multi-agency taskforce to support the affected families.

Under the Hunger Safety Net Programme each beneficiary is expected to receive at least Sh5,400.

During a meeting with Regional and County commissioners from the affected counties, Wamalwa however said, several livestock have died as a result of the drought.

Government has issued a Sh597m cheque to Equity Bank which will be used to support affected families in Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir and Mandera.

Further Sh10 billion will be released to counties hosting refugees under the Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (KDRDIP).

“Under this project Garissa will get Sh4.2B, Turkana Sh3B and Wajir Sh2B as we are targeting counties that are hosting refugees and have been affected by the drought,” he said.

The government is expected to release cash through the Relief Assistance Management Information System (RAMIS).

Under the RAMIS programme families are expected to receive Sh4,000 on a  monthly basis.

The devolution ministry is working with the World Food Programme and National drought management authority by harmonizing their data in order to avoid cases of double allocation.

Also, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as the European Union (EU) have committed Sh1.5 billion and Sh500 million respectively towards water tracking and water provision to the affected communities.