The Laikipia County administration has temporarily suspended development projects to focus on addressing the current drought situation in the area where 183, 000 residents in dire need of food are staring at starvation.
Governor Joshua Irungu said that his administration had set aside Sh20 million from the county budget for the next six months to assist residents affected by the current famine with relief aid until the resumption of rains.
“Development is now not a priority but the most urgent thing is to try as much as we can to save the lives of those starving,” Governor Irungu said.
Speaking when he co-chaired a County Steering Group meeting with County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri, Irungu added that his administration was also lobbying the private sector to come on board and assist in relief mobilisation.
“We are reaching out to everyone since the drought situation needs concerted efforts to mitigate and not just the National or County governments,” Irungu said.
The County Commissioner noted that the drought situation was spread in all the sub-counties and had wider ramifications than just people missing meals but had also seen children dropout from school, thousands of livestock dead and most rivers drying up.
Kanyiri further noted that Laikipia was among the 23 counties worst affected by the current drought following failed rains for the last two years.
He emphasised transparency and accountability in the relief distribution exercise once it commences to ensure only deserving cases get assistance.
“It’s important to bring on board all partners in relief food distribution and other interventions but at the same time ensure there’s transparency in the whole exercise,” Kanyiri said.
National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Laikipia County Coordinator Golicha Guyo said the drought situation in the area was classified as severe in most parts and called on interventions that will also see the provision of livestock feed to save the few emaciated remaining animals.
“Even as we focus on the provision of food for residents, let us not forget livestock too as it’s the livelihood of most people here in Laikipia,” Guyo said.
The meeting also deliberated on repairs of broken-down boreholes to provide water to residents and livestock.
By Martin Munyi
