Lagdera Member of Parliament elect Abdikadir Hussein has appealed to the national and Garissa county governments to step intervention measures to contain the worsening drought in Lagdera Sub County.
Talking to KNA on phone today, Hussein said that if the two governments do not move in as a matter of urgency to intervene in the current drought then in the coming few weeks lives ‘could be lost’.
According to Hussein, the residents are now forced to walk long distances in search of water for domestic use and the animals.
“The remaining pasture has been depleted and the residents are forced to walk long distance in search of pasture for their animals. Those left behind have also to trek far and wide for water for both domestic and animals,” Hussein said.
“I have spoken to relevant government officials who are aware of the situation on the ground. We are all in agreement that the situation is dire and requires urgent intervention,” he added.
The MP elect regretted that the constituency has for decades suffered from perennial water shortage with no permanent solution from the two sets of government.
Hussein however remained optimistic that the incoming county administration will address the plight of the residents and come up with long term solutions.
“It is unfortunate that Lagdera continue to suffer from water shortage, a problem that has persisted for decades. We thought with devolution in place at least we will find a solution but has not worked to date,” he said.
He said water trucking should come as a short term solution but going forward both the national and county government should explore the possibilities of sinking boreholes and constructing mega dams.
This, the MP noted will save the pastoralists from stress of traveling for long distance in search of water for both domestic and livestock.
The area has always suffered from acute water shortage and numerous efforts to sink boreholes have not yielded much results.
Area leaders and residents have over time and again held demonstrations to lament about the same accusing the government of doing little to address the problem.
During the campaigns ahead of the August 9 polls, candidates used drought situation as a campaign tool with promises of addressing it.
“As the area MP, I will do my best to push both the national government through the northern water works development agency and the county to come up with both short and long term measure of addressing the perennial drought in the sub-county. It cannot be business as usual when our people are still suffering from lack of a very basic commodity like water,” he said.
In his inaugural speech, Garissa governor Nathif Jama acknowledged the situation in Lagdera Sub County was dire and that his administration will construct a modern mega dam in Modogashe to conserve rain water.
By Jacob Songok
