South Rift: Rain welcome, but we still need donations

By Steve Mkawale

The onset of the long rains comes as a huge relief to most Kenyans, but residents of the arid and semi-arid areas of the central and south Rift regions are still starving.

The residents, most of them pastoralists, lost their livestock during the drought and have been surviving on wild fruits.

The worst hit include Baringo and East Pokot districts where about 10,000 residents face starvation.

In Mogotio constituency, more than 12,000 people are starving and local MP Helen Sambili said they are in dire need of food as dams and rivers have dried up.

Those in East Pokot District said the Government was yet to buy their dying livestock.

"We are yet to see whether the Government will buy our dying animals as it promised," said Mr David Kamket of Nginyang.

Some 130,000 people in Bomet District require urgent food supplies.

Government officials said drought has ravaged Longisa, Sigor and Siongiroi divisions in the district.

"In the next six months, 195,000 bags of maize and 52,000 bags of beans will be required to feed the starving," said an officer at the local DC’s office.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agricultural has been asked to issue drought-resistant seeds to farmers in semi-arid areas.

A report prepared by the Ministry for the Development of Northern Kenya recommends that such seeds be supplied to Baringo and East Pokot districts.

 

 

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