Isiolo county will partner with USAID and the National government in working on a program aimed at mitigating the effects of drought in the area.
More than 29,000 households are at risk and in dire need of intervention following recurrent drought in Isiolo, with Oldonyiro, Merti, Garbatulla and Chari among the hard hit areas.
On Friday, CEC Agriculture, Livestock development Dr Lawrence Mwongera announced that the county will closely work with the partners through partnership for resilience and economic growth to cushion the communities following the ravaging drought in the area.
"There is urgent need to come up with an emergency response in areas hard hit by drought to increase access to water both for livestock and domestic use," he said.
Provision of livestock off-take programs, upscaling the provision of cash transfer programs, water trucking and provision of fuel in areas hard hit by drought to increase access to water both for livestock and domestic use were some of the responses suggested by the CEC.
Mwongera who represented Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo was speaking while receiving high powered USAID delegation in Isiolo.
He emphasized that the County government will work with partners to prioritise, map and intervene through the sector working groups.
Present during the meeting were Chief officers from various departments among them Mustafa Kuntulo, Salad Tutana, Philip Lenawasai and Lucy Kaburu.
USAID head of mission Maura Barry called for diversification of livelihood in order to cope with the harsh effects of the drought.
She said there was a need to embrace practical and proactive long-term solutions to the challenges of recurring drought in the region.
Barry also hailed the initiative by the various partners to actively work together to address the effect of the drought.
Present during the meeting were Chief officers from various departments among them Mustafa Kuntulo, Salad Tuna, Philip Lenawasai and Lucy Kaburu.
Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, occupy 80 per cent of the country’s landmass and are inhabited by nearly ten million people who rely on livestock rearing and seasonal small-scale farming for their livelihoods.
Northern Kenya is known for the variable environmental conditions that result in periodic drought, floods, animal disease outbreaks, and social instability due to conflict and historical marginalisation.
Early this year, it was reported that between October 2021 and February 2022, more than 70,000 animals died in Isiolo due to the biting effects of drought as revealed by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).
An estimated 12,500 cattle, 20,600 goats, 42,700 sheep and 700 camels had died, a situation that worsened when the October-December 2021 rains failed.
The majority of the deaths were recorded in October and November, reports show.
The most affected areas are Chari, Cherab, Sericho, Oldonyiro, Garbatulla and Kinna wards.
