More than 2,500 residents of Ndigiria sublocation in Ganze have turned to grass to beat hunger due to the ongoing drought in Kilifi county.
With little resources to cushion them from the ravaging drought, most residents now eat nut grass as food.
Nut grass, locally known as Ndago, is scientifically referred to as Cyperus rotundus.
The residents uproot the nut grass and cut the small bulblike tubers. The tubers are then dried up in a pan and fried like groundnuts.
At least 149,000 residents and 233,810 animals have been affected by the drought in Kilifi.
Ndigiria assistant chief James Randu said few families are able to get at least two meals a day as the majority go for days without food.
“Resident depended on mixed farming, however for years, we have not received sufficient rainfall. Last year many livestock died due to drought. Some sold their animals to buy food but now they are left destitute with nothing to sell,” he said
He said those hard hit are children and the elderly. The residents also share the muddy water available with the remaining livestock.
The nearest earth dam that still has some water is about 10 kilometres away.
Randu said the residents depended heavily on the Ndigiria water pan for irrigation and domestic use.
“The water pan has dried up and people have to walk to Jila where there is a water pan that still has some water. The furthest person walks about 20 kilometres from Bungale to Jila and back. The situation is pathetic," he said.
He, however, was optimistic that government interventions which have already been put in place will address the issue, albeit temporarily.
Margaret Kaingu from Bungale village said women spend the night at the dried-up water pan as they wait for the water in dug-out shallow wells.
Kaingu said most of those who cannot walk the long distance have to drink the dirty water from the wells.
“The pan dried up so some people dug into the mud to get water. You have to wait for hours for water, which happened at a slower pace,” she said
A 20 litre jerrican of water at the wells is sold at Sh10.
“If you cannot pay the Sh10 you are forced to fetch water from the abandoned wells which are extremely contaminated or you dig your own well,” she said
Didmus Fujo, a resident urged the government to look for permanent solutions to the perennial problem.
Fujo who used to farm near the water pan said it has taken four years for it to dry up.
“This is not the first time we are having this problem. The government is aware of this problem but I wonder why they are not addressing it yet we are suffering. We need assistance because very soon even the grass will dry up,” he said.
Sokoke ward MCA Thaura Mweni said the plight of the people has not been addressed by the local leadership. Mweni said the county is yet to discuss the matter.
“I have personally forwarded this matter to the county government but they are yet to take any action. We have not seen the supplementary budget so there are no concrete plans to address the issue," Mweni said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
