The national and county governments together with NGOs in semi-arid north have joined hands to mitigate the effects of the biting drought.
The National Drought Management Authority, Northern Water Services Board, relevant departments in the county governments and non-governmental organisations are working hard to ensure no community goes without water.
Due to poor rains in November-December and the high temperatures northern Kenya, actors in the sector have come together to mitigate the drought.
The NDMA county coordinator Abinoor Dubow said proper coordination between the actors has been key this time round.
“We are working round the clock to manage the situation and ensure it does not get to crisis level,” Dubow said.
“We are refilling water points used by wild animals to avoid human-wildlife conflict," he said.
BOREHOLES
Garissa county water CEC Issa Oyow said the department has put in a number of mitigation measures including repair of broken boreholes, replenishing water pans and water trucking to villages.
Speaking separately, Kenya Livestock Marketing Council chairman Dubat Amey appealed to both the national and county government to allocate more resources towards drought mitigation.
A food security technical team comprising Kenya Food Security Steering Group and other non-state actors toured the region to assess the extent of the drought.
They visited Fafi, Balambala, Lagdera, Dadaab, Ijara and Holugho subcounties.
The team is compiling its report and will advice on appropriate responses by the agriculture, education, security and other sectors.
Last week, Knut executive Abdirizak Hussein expressed concern that the drought might affect learning in schools.
