Drought puts residents in 10 counties at risk of hunger
The government has raised an alarm over a worsening drought in 10 counties that is set to negate gains on food security.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the State is working around-the-clock to assist families in the devolved units afflicted by the drought.
He cited Isiolo, Kilifi, Garissa, Mandera, Samburu, Tana River, Wajir, Lamu, Marsabit and Turkana as the worst hit regions at the moment.
“We need to act fast as possible to avoid a catastrophe. The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has new data that indicates that the current drought situation could get worse between August and December, hence the need for action,” said the CS in Naivasha after a consultative meeting with leaders from the arid counties.
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He held a session with the MPs from Turkana and Marsabit on how to address the current situation.
The statement came hot on the heels of a study by NDMA, which cited poor rainfall in the said counties as the cause of hunger.
The CS, however, noted that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has committed Kes 1.5 billion and the European Union Kes 500 million towards assisting the vulnerable families through the provision of water.
