- Governor Nanok said the drought has reached "alarm" stage and the region is devastated.
- Last week, the county started distributing food to more than 640,000 people.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok has said the devastating drought is worsening and has reached the 'alarm' stage.
Effects are being felt throughout the arid region as people cry out for food and lifestock lose weight, some sicken.
No human deaths have been reported from the effects of drought, Nanok said on Monday at county headquarters in Lodwar.
“Turkana has just entered into an alarm stage of drought. The effects are much felt along the Lakezone area, Todonyang, Kangatotha, Kerio and the Kalapata are severely affected,” he said.
He said more than 640,000 people are in dire need of food.
Nanok said there were recent showers that will slightly improve vegetation for livestock.
“Despite the alarm stage, the nutrition status of children is generally moderate and the livestock body condition is fair.
The governor criticised the lower prices of livestock, saying the average price of a goat has plummeted from Sh4,000 to Sh2,500.
The National Drought Management Authority says more livestock diseases were reported in pastoral zones such as Lokori, Letea, Lokichar and Kaeris wards. It cited contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
Sites along the fisheries livelihood zone reported cases of pest pestis ruminantes (PPR) and sheep and goat pox.
Governor Nanok said last week they began distributing food to more than 640,000 people.
He said the county was distributing 2,500 metric tonnes, starting in Turkana North, Turkana Central, Turkana South and Turkana East.
So far 25,000 people have received relief food.
Nanok said the county government is supporting farmers by preparing land, providing hardy seeds and tools.
“We anticipate a lot of rain and we want our people to take advantage and plant short-season crops such as watermelon, cowpeas and spinach for food security," Nanok said.
His administration is trucking water to stressed areas in the pastoral livelihood zone and repairing broken boreholes in strategic locations.
The Turkana government is working closely with relief agencies
Last week, the Kenya Red Cross, in collaboration with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the Turkana government launched a cash transfer programme.
The USAID-funded programme targets 11,082 households, equivalent to 66,492 people in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties.
The programme targets 31,940 people in Turkana, 16,335 in West Pokot and 18,217 in Baringo counties.
Red Cross deputy secretary general Annette Msabeni said the programme will benefit 5,323 families, or 31,940 residents in Turkana.
(Edited by V. Graham)