The national government has started disbursing livestock feeds in aid of farmers afflicted by drought in all the four constituencies of Marsabit County.
Through the Regional Development, Asals and Special Programs Ministry, the government has purchased 11,200 bags of livestock feeds which is expected to help local pastoralists in mitigating against the current severe drought.
Speaking during the launch of the exercise at the county headquarters on behalf of the CS in charge Rebecca Miano, Marsabit acting County Commissioner David Saruni said 2,800 families are targeted in the exercise across in the county.
The households are expected to receive four bags of 50 kilogram each being the allocation for the month of February.
Mr Saruni said the government with the help of development partners was committed to assist the populations affected by the prolonged drought which has so far led to the death of 45 per cent of livestock in Marsabit County.
The county commissioner disclosed that Laisamis constituency has already received It’s share while that for North Horr was in progress.
Allocations for Moyale and Saku constituencies were also in the process of disbursement.
He added that through the food for fees to schools, the government had so far managed a 89 per cent transition to secondary school of last year KCPE candidates.
“We are working on ways to address challenges that include drought which have kept the remaining number away from class so that they can also transit” he said.
Marsabit county drought management authority (NDMA) coordinator Henry Mustafa said the severe drought has left 309, 176 people in the county food insecure and who are in dire need of food aid.
He added that there has been rain failure for five consecutive seasons in the county adding that the situation could be worse after rain projections showed that no meaningful rainfall was expected this season.
Mr Mustafa, however said that plans by the government to continuously avail emergency relief food and water to those reeling under famine were in place.
Also, the coordinator disclosed that 1,600 students in 80 secondary schools were being assisted to pay tuition fees through the food for fees arrangement.
Mr Mustafa said children under five and now the rest of the population across the county were severely malnourished owing to lack of adequate and quality food.
North Horr constituency has the highest rate of 30.3 per cent followed by Laisamis with 29.3 percent.
In Moyale constituency the situation is no better as the malnutrition rate stands at 15 percent while that of Saku is 8.3 per cent.
By Sebastian Miriti
