Sixteen wards in Kilifi County have been affected by the drought forcing residents to look for water and pasture for their livestock in other wards.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) officer in Kilifi, Adam Ndamungu told the County Steering Group (CSG) meeting at a Kilifi hotel on Wednesday that residents in the affected wards may soon require food and water assistance if the drought persists for the next one month.
Ndamungu said most affected wards are in Kaloleni, Ganze and Magarini sub counties where water pans have dried up.
He further advised the County Disaster Management Unit (DMU) to start planning in case the drought persists throughout the months of March and April, 2021 saying according to an assessment carried out by officials in his office, there is the need to start intervening now.
Responding to the situation, officer in charge of weather focus in the County Ramadhan Munga said they will start receiving rains from March 23, 2021 and dismissed fears that the drought might persist throughout April.
He said though the rains will be sparsely distributed in the month of March and part of April, it is expected to increase towards the end of April and May, 2021.
By Harrison Yeri
