The ongoing drought in West Pokot county has lead to a sharp increase in prices of vegetables.
Highland areas have also experienced the drought.
The areas normally experience rainfall in the month of November. However, last year rains failed.
Mary Cheptoo, a resident from Lelan village in Pokot South subcounty said they are experiencing a shortage of vegetables like sukuma wiki (kale), black nightshade (managu) and cabbages.
Cheptoo said parents are finding it hard to feed their families.
“Those with big families have to spend more than Sh200 to afford vegetables unlike other times when one would spend only Sh20 for the same daily,” she said.
She said most families have opted to buy meat to feed their families.
“They buy meat and prepare it with a lot of soup because it feeds the whole family compared to vegetables,” she said.
Cheptoo said failure of short rains in November bared many families from planting vegetables.
She said those in swampy areas managed to plant some crops but they could not meet the demand.
Pokot South is famously known for production of cabbages, onions and Irish potatoes.
In Makutano town cabbages are currently retailing at Sh70 up from Sh20.
Rebecca Nasimiyu a trader said since she started selling potatoes in Makutano market five years ago, she has never sold a 2kg tin of potatoes at Sh150.
The residents are worried that should the drought persist for two more months, their livestock and families will suffer.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
