Mandera County is facing an acute water shortage as drought continues ravaging livelihoods.
In Marothiley and Asahabito wards, residents have not been spared by the effects of the prolonged dry spell as one of the main water earth pans has dried up.
The main borehole serving the two wards broke down two days ago leaving the residents at the mercy of private vendors who sell a 20 litre jerrican at Sh20.
Water and Natural Resources County Executive Secretary (CES) Ali Makar on Monday said all water sources have dried up posing a danger to residents and livestock.
The CES said in March the region experiences water crisis and it escalates towards the end of month to almost unmanageable levels.
Mr. Makar said his department has established some 243 water trucking centres in mitigating the effects of the prolonged drought.
He said the centres were in vital government institutions, schools and settlements areas, adding that the county has hired 13 water boozers to complement the existing 10 trucks to cushion residents and their livestock in the seven Sub-counties.
The CES termed the drought situation as severe but neither livestock nor human deaths have been reported so far.
He said the county government is working on other long term measures in line with improving the situation of biting drought.
By Dickson Githaiga
