200,000 People In Meru Facing Massive Starvation
KEY POINTS
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) says the number of people suffering from food insecurity in Kenya is 4.1 million noting that it will increase to 4.35 million by October 2022 amid worsening drought in many parts of the country.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In Kajiado county where livestock farming is the economic mainstay, at least 450,000 cattle valued at about 13.6 billion shillings are on the verge of death, with 75 percent of wildlife affected and dying of hunger.
The ministry of agriculture reported that 1.5 million livestock died between January and March this year, as a result of drought. Farmers lost 253,000 cattle, 43 camels, and 1.21 million goats and sheep.
The Kenya Red Cross has called upon well-wishers to support thousands of families battling the effects of drought in Meru county.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Meru Coordinator Denis Were, the elderly, disabled, and those battling chronic illness are the worst hit. He urged Kenyans to intervene to save the families from malnutrition.
“We need more interventions to help residents overcome the pangs of hunger,” Were said while distributing relief food to families in the Mutuati sub-county.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) says the number of people suffering from food insecurity in Kenya is 4.1 million noting that it will increase to 4.35 million by October 2022 amid worsening drought in many parts of the country.
According to NDMA data, the devastating effects of the ongoing drought in the region have left More than 200,000 people facing starvation and in need of aid. The worst hit areas are Tigania East, Tigania West, Igembe North, and Buuri.
Equally, Mutuati Assistant County Commissioner Peter Odenyo said more than 3,000 households need food aid. Odenyo noted that the severe drought has triggered an increase in cases of family disputes, pointing out some government interventions including feeding programs in more than 30 public schools.
Missing rains
Meru county has experienced failed rains in the last three seasons. The Kenya meteorological department recently announced that the situation will continue to be witnessed in various parts of the country, with the country expected to receive erratic rains during the months of October, November, and December.
The forecast shows that some parts of North-Eastern, coastal regions, and South-Eastern Kenya will receive below-average rains. This includes Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Kitui, Makueni, and parts of Machakos.
The others are Taita Taveta, Kajiado, and parts of Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties. Parts of Western Kenya are expected to receive near-average rainfall tending toward below-average rainfall. This include, Bungoma, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, and West Pokot.
The rain shortage will hurt the country’s economy and its efforts to attain food security. The country’s poor rainfall performance has also negatively impacted the livestock sector due to shortages of animal feeds.
In the ASALs, problems related to water scarcity and poor regeneration of pastures, and limited water availability for livestock have increased. This has forced farmers to go the extra mile in protecting their livestock from death due to hunger despite the increasing number of animal deaths.
For instance, in Kajiado county where livestock farming is the economic mainstay, at least 450,000 cattle valued at about 13.6 billion shillings are on the verge of death, with 75 percent of wildlife affected and dying of hunger.
The ministry of agriculture reported that 1.5 million livestock died between January and March this year, as a result of drought. Farmers lost 253,000 cattle, 43 camels, and 1.21 million goats and sheep.
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