Kajiado residents, livestock staring at acute starvation
More than 40 per cent of Kajiado county residents and hundreds of animals face starvation due to drought.
County Disaster Management department notes that failure of the much-anticipated end of the year short rains in most parts of the vast county has made the situation dire.
Only parts of Kajiado East and Kajiado South sub-counties received minimal rains.
For the last one year, herders have been grappling with a looming drought. Livestock prices dropped as low as Sh4,000 for a skinny mature animal.
Currently, most herders have migrated to areas that received rains with the pasture diminishing fast leaving the herders more vulnerable.
Looming drought has affected the school calendar with some students failing to report for the third term, as families relocate in search of water and pasture.
The herders have since called on the government to intervene and supply them with relief food.
“Drought situation is dire. We did not receive end of the year rains. Most herders are trooping to areas that received short rains.
We are not sure how long the pasture will last. My children have also been forced skipped classes until I am able to sell some animals to pay fees,” said Jackson Olormemiri, a resident of Ilbisil.
Rural villages
Speaking yesterday, Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho, also chairman of the County Disaster Committee, said more than 40 per cent of residents in the rural villages and hundreds of animals are facing acute starvation.
“The county government is overstretched and we are only able to supply very little relief food to a handful of families.
Some 10,000 families in Kajiado West and Central have been earmarked to be facing starvation,” said Moshisho.
“We are seeking the national government intervention before things get out of hand.
If there is no rain in the next one month, more than 70 per cent of residents living in rural areas will be subjected to survive on relief food,” he added.
