The National Government has allocated Sh2 billion to eight counties that were affected by floods, locust invasion and currently the ongoing drought to reduce their impact on humans and animals.
The Chief Administrative Secretary for Devolution, Mr. Abdul Bahari said that since President Uhuru Kenyatta declared drought a national disaster two weeks ago, the government has purchased 8,400 bales of hay for animals and relief food to support 107, 221 people in Isiolo County.
He added that another 60,000 homesteads would soon benefit from surety network cash transfer support and challenged development partners not to crowd in one locality even as they supplement the government effort to help the hungry in the area.
Bahari urged development partners to suspend all the development activities and focus their intervention on reducing loss of life for human and animals and poverty among the residents.
The CAS was addressing the County Steering Group (CSG) in Isiolo town on Monday September 27, 2021.
He said that the National Government was already undertaking water trucking for both humans and animals in Modogashe, Garbatulla Sub-County in response to the drought.
He said that the government has a 12- months plan in place to see that no citizen would lose life and challenged Non-governmental organizations in the County to distribute the resources and fill gaps left out through CSG meetings.
Bahari added that the government would undertake a destocking exercise in Isiolo County where Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) would buy 1,125 weak cattle at Sh20, 000 in a bid to reduce the harsh drought impact on farmers who were likely to lose animals.
Isiolo Deputy Governor, Dr Abdi Issa said that the County Government would disburse Sh70 million as bursary for needy students also in an effort to help the government reduce drought impact at village level and guarantee 100 percent transition policy is successful in the region.
Dr Issa further added that his administration has set aside Sh44 million for women, youth and people with disabilities to cushion them against drought effects and facilitate them to start small scale businesses.
He said the County had faced calamities like drought, floods, and conflicts over water and pasture and the worst locust invasions which swept pasture forcing a rise in human-wildlife conflicts in the area.
Isiolo County Commissioner, Mr. Geoffrey Omoding said that the government has deployed two water boozer trucks to distribute water to Merti and Garbatula Sub-Counties while drilling of four boreholes was completed recently.
The county boss urged herders from the neighbouring counties to stick to the grazing regulations that were imposed by local management committees instead of using force to water their animals resulting in conflicts which sometimes caused death.
Omoding urged the government to give additional security operation funds since security response in the vast region is costly and the money allocated at present was inadequate.
By Abduba Mamo and David Nduro
