State promises bursaries as drought bites Garissa

The government will soon start issuing bursaries to children from the nine subcounties of Garissa whose families have been hard hit by the current drought.

Speaking to the press outside the county commissioner's office after a courtesy call, Devolution CAS Abdul Bahari said the process of identifying the families is ongoing.

He said local administrators will work closely with village elders to ensure the neediest receive the bursaries.

“As you are aware, our communities largely depend on livestock for their livelihoods which have since been adversely affected by the current drought. Some of these families have children who were supposed to be joining secondary school,” Bahari said.

He added: “Such families have to be assisted otherwise they won't be able to take their children to school. And what that means is that we will have a lot of dropouts. As a government that is what we are trying to avoid. We want 100 per cent transition”.

Bahari who was flanked by Garissa county NDMA coordinator Abinoor Dubow and county commissioner Boaz Cherutich further said he was satisfied with the level of coordination between the national and county governments.

The last three months have seen pasture depleted and diminishing water levels. Several boreholes have broken down due to growing demand.

The situation has seen the animals deteriorate in health, affecting their market prices.

The CAS revealed that efforts were being made to ensure that the off-take programme starts soon.

The county commissioner said his office was closely working with chiefs and elders to profile children who are not able to join secondary school and nursery.

He further said that a series of peace meetings would be held in insecurity-prone areas to avert fights over water and resources.

“We want to encourage our peace and security committee to meet their neighbours from Isiolo and Tana River so that they can address issues that can cause insecurity. All we want is our people to coexist peacefully and share the little resources available without fighting,” Cherutich said.

Garissa county water executive Abdi Omar said the county has already earmarked Sh100 million to cushion pastoralists from drought.

He said in the next two weeks the money will be available. He said that water bowsers have already been stationed in all the subcounties to ensure that herders get a constant supply of water for both domestic and livestock use.