Baringo County Commissioner (CC) Abdirisack Jaldesa has said that no cases of death due to drought-related incidents have been reported so far in the region.
Jaldesa made the remarks during a drought mitigation consultative forum at a Kabarnet resort where he said that the situation is still under control but warned that early signs of livestock health deteriorating have been witnessed in some few parts of the county.
He noted that the looming disaster has necessitated all stakeholders to plan for a worst-case scenario as the situation threatens to get out of hand due to the lack of rain.
“We are thankful that in the months of August and September, a few areas received some little rainfall that is why we have not gotten any deaths but we will not wait until the situation becomes serious,” the Commissioner said.
The CC stated that his office is teaming up with county government and other humanitarian organisations including UNICEF and FAO to offer short and long-term solutions to the challenge which he says has affected key sectors like education, health and livestock production.
Accompanied by acting county secretary Elijah Kipkoros Jaldesa said that the consultative forum had resolved to identify the neediest cases who will be supported with food, water and stipends.
“We are also planning on ways of ensuring that institutions within the remote areas of our county get clean water so that learning can continue uninterrupted,” he said.
The County Commissioner stated that apart from an offtake program, the government began in the county where they are buying animals from farmers and slaughtering them for distribution as food relief, a supply distribution drive has also been rolled out targeting poor households to cushion them from the pangs of hunger.
He urged more partners to chip in and offer support to residents especially in Tiaty, Baringo North and Marigat sub-counties to enable them to carry on with their daily activities without any major challenges.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
