Development actors in Isiolo County have been urged to stick to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) survey findings to avoid duplication of their activities to avert conflict of interest among the organizations.
The County NDMA Coordinator Mr. Lordman Lekalkuli said that his office had recently conducted a poverty index survey in all the 10 wards and identified there are about 23,000 vulnerable households in need of food support in the County.
Mr. Lekalkuli said that 80 per cent of Isiolo residents depend on livestock for their livelihood but their incomes and food security dwindled last year due to weather and other factors.
He cited destruction of crops that was occasioned by the desert locusts’ invasion, Covid-19 outbreak, the looming drought and insecurity at grazing lands, the last two years.
Addressing special County Steering Group (CSG) meeting chaired by Assistant County Commissioner Mr. Daniel Gichohi and Sub County Administrator Mr. Adan Denge, Mr. Lekalkuli said that bio-annual food security surveys show that Oldonyiro, Charri, Cherab, Sericho and Kinna wards were most affected by drought and locusts invasion.
He added that during drought intervention, development partners should channel all the activities and plans through the CSG so as to avoid duplication of activities and also conflict among the locals.
The coordinator added that 3,000 head of cattle would be slaughtered in Isiolo and meat distributed free to local residents for free in a bid to minimize the loss of animals to the looming drought and also curb loss on the farmers’ side.
He added that since drought started in the year 2020 – 2021, over 12,500 cattle, 20,600 goats, 42,700 sheep and 700 camels had died making the poverty levels rise.
Lekalkuli said that Kenya Meat Commission, Interior Ministry and Kenya Red Cross Society are in the final stages of preparation for a slaughter program in the County where a cow would cost sh. 15,000 while sheep and goats would cost sh. 3,000 per animal.
The Caritas Isiolo County Coordinator Mr. Jirma Galgallo said that his organisation has received sh. 2 million to rehabilitate boreholes and provide fuel subsidy in Modogashe in Sericho Ward.
Mr. Galgallo said that his organisation and Nawiri had purchased 500 bales of hay and distributed them to drought affected livestock owners in Garbatulla.
He further said that 300 households would each receive sh. 5,000 every month for four months on cash transfer to cushion them from the drought effects.
By Abduba Mamo and David Nduro
