Governor Muktar appeals for support as drought worsens

Wajir Governor Ahmed Muktar has urged the national government, NGOs and other well-wishers to support in mitigating drought.

He said the county was not yet off the hook as far as drought was concerned.

"The dry spell is expected to worsen from mid-February and we can only do so much with the limited resources,” Muktar said.

The governor spoke on Saturday outside his office when he flagged off four water bowsers for water trucking across the subcounties.

A prolonged dry spell has ravaged the county with adverse effects on both residents and their livestock.

“We didn't get enough rains in the October to December season as we had expected.

"The situation has led to loss of hundreds of livestock. The few that remain are in poor condition and deteriorating by day,” Muktar said.

A spot check in some subcounties revealed a dire situation with carcasses scattered over short distances.

“My government is committed to put in place measures that will enhance heightened drought mitigation,” the governor said.

He said his administration remains proactive in handling the situation including drilling boreholes in the subcounties.

Muktar however said overconcentration at the boreholes has led to frequent breakdowns which call for costly repairs.

The governor who was accompanied by Deputy Governor Hashim Musa and Frontier Counties Development Council CEO Mohamed Gulleid said the county has scaled up borehole maintenance.

“Our team of mechanics and electricians are working 24 hours in shifts to ensure residents do not lack water,” he said.

Drought management coordinator Hassan Kalmoy said all six subcounties received suppressed rainfall. 

He added that as a result, there has been more pressure on the existing boreholes and water pans.

“Most of the water pans have dried up. There is a lot of concentration on the existing shallow wells and boreholes,” Kalmoy told the Star on phone.

According to the Meteorological department, the dry period is expected to continue for three months, making an already bad situation worse.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)