The government has been using ineffective chemicals to control destructive desert locusts, Agriculture CS Peter Munya has said.
Speaking in Ngaremara, Isiolo, where he went to assess the control method being used, Munya said the chemicals have been changed and the locusts will be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
The CS said that 6,000 litres of the chemicals have been bought and spraying will start early Friday morning. He assured Kenyans that the chemicals being used are safe and are not harmful to either humans or livestock.
“The chemicals which are being used have been tested and proven to be safe. I can assure everyone that they have no side effects on human beings and livestock, therefore people should not panic, the chemicals are meant to eradicate locusts only,” the CS said.
He further blamed poor preparedness caused by poor communication between the Kenyan and Somali governments for the missed opportunity to control the pests.
“The locust would have been dealt with sooner if the government had been prepared, however, there is poor communication between Kenya and Somalia, where the locusts are believed to have originated from, but we are working hard to get rid of them before they cause further damage,” Munya said.
The locusts have spread to eight counties – Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Samburu, Meru and Laikipia.
The former Meru governor said that the government will assess the damage done by the locusts in all affected counties and once the spraying process is complete, all those who have been affected by the locust menace will be compensated.
The CS commended the county and national governments for their efforts to prevent the spread of the pests, saying he was convinced the newly purchased chemicals were effective and would eradicate the locusts completely.
He said the county governments of Meru and Isiolo are working with the national government to get rid of the locusts in the area. Munya said he had visited Meru and confirmed that the damage done was minimal.
He said the government is focused on eradicating the pests in Isiolo county and once all affected areas have been sprayed, residual chemicals will be used in Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit counties.
