Brace for drought between August and December

 

Kenyans have been asked to brace for harsh weather conditions between August and December that could lead to severe drought.

The warning was issued by the National Drought Management Authority.

It comes even as the government announced that the number of counties currently affected by the ongoing drought rose from eight to 10 with fears that it could increase in the coming days.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the government was working round the clock to assist vulnerable families.

He named Garissa, Isiolo, Kilifi, Mandera, Samburu, Tana River, Wajir, Lamu, Marsabit and Turkana among the counties hardest hit by the drought.

“The National Drought Management Authority has new data that indicates that the current drought situation could get worse between August and December hence the need for action,” Eugene said.

The CS was addressing reporters at Lake Naivasha Resort after attending a consultative meeting with MPs from Marsabit and Turkana counties on how to address the challenges.

He said that Food and Agriculture Organization had committed Sh1.5 billion and the European Union Sh500 million towards assisting the vulnerable families through the provision of water.

Eugene said that this month, the government released Sh559 million through the Hunger Safety Network targeting 100,000 vulnerable families affected by the drought.

“In August, we shall release a similar amount to assist those affected and we are keen on building the communities resilience as part of mitigation measures,” he said.

The CS was flanked by the lawmakers as he spoke. He said the construction of three mega-dams in Turkana, West Pokot and Marsabit counties were at advanced stages and that the dams are expected to fully address the perennial water shortage in the regions.

“We have come to learn that water pans dry fast and are not effective in addressing the water crisis in the semi-arid counties and we are now opting for major dams,” Eugene said.

Saku MP Dido Raso termed the situation critical as families and livestock struggle to get water and pasture respectively.

He noted that with schools reopening next week, there were fears many students could drop out as they joined their families in searching for water.

“We are asking the government to speed up the process of distributing relief food to the affected families as the situation is getting worse by the day for both humans and livestock,” Raso said.   BY THE STAR