Narok County Drought Steering Committee has raised concerns over the drought situation that is worsening in the area.
A committee meeting chaired by Governor Patrick Ntutu and County Commissioner Isaac Masinde observed that over 115, 000 people were affected by the ongoing drought and the situation is expected to worsen in the months of October, November and December.
Governor Ntutu said the National and County governments are working round the clock to mitigate the effects of drought that is projected to affect over 173, 000 people in the county before the end of the year.
He raised concern over an influx of livestock from neighbouring Kajiado County and Tanzania that has affected the pasture in Mosiro ward and Siana wards respectively.
“According to the meteorological department, most parts of the county will get depressed rainfall and as a result both crops and animals will be severely affected. We want to put measures in place early enough to mitigate this,” said governor Ntutu.
The governor revealed that the county has started supplying water through water bowsers to the vulnerable populations in schools in a bid to mitigate the effects of drought.
At the same time, the county chief decried increased food prices and reduced livestock prices calling on the residents to accept to sell their livestock early enough when the prices are high instead of losing their animals to drought.
“We have a report on the drought situation in the county which we will be sending to the office of the Deputy President in due time,” he told the journalists outside the county commissioner’s office today.
Mr Masinde said about 130 primary schools in the county were affected by drought and plans are underway to revive the school feeding programmes in the schools.
“We need to assist the school children so that they can remain in school especially this term when the candidates will be sitting for their national exams,” reiterated Masinde.
He underscored the need for all Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and other well-wishers who wish to distribute relief food to the affected families to do so through the committee only.
“We do not want a situation where some areas benefit more than other areas. We want the food to reach every affected homestead evenly,” he reiterated.
The Drought Steering Committee comprises key departments in National and County governments with an aim to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms with a view to assess the impact of the interventions.
The committee also discusses and harmonizes the mode of intervention, whether to adopt cash transfer or relief food.
By Ann Salaton
