Drought has always been synonymous with conflicts in northern Kenya as communities tend to fight over the little available resources like water and pasture.
And with October-December season experiencing suppressed rains, the situation is bound to get worse.
Speaking in Garissa, Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein and his Fafi counterpart Salah Yakub said the security personnel should not wait until clashes start to be experienced for them to act.
“As a region we are experiencing vegetation deficit due to the suppressed rain. The little that is there will not last long due to high concentration of livestock in the dry season grazing areas,” the Lagdera MP said.
“Communities from Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit and Tana river are scattered everywhere trying to look for pasture and water for their livestock. My biggest worry and concern as leader is if these very same communities start to squabble.”
The MP, whose constituency is one of the worst hit and which has a history of perennial water shortage and clashes with their neighbours from Isiolo, called on the security apparatus to be on the look out for individuals who will be out to incite communities to fight against each other.
Pastoralists from Garissa in Lagdera and their counterparts from Isiolo have over for years fought over resources, with each community accusing the other of being the aggressors.
He further called on both state and non-state actors to upscale relief food distribution, cash transfer as well as livestock feed and supplements to alleviate the suffering of both human beings and livestock.
On his part, Yakub said that some pastoralists have made it a habit to move with their animals in parts of his constituency and drinking water from the pans without seeking permission from the water users association.
“As we speak today, I had an issue in Fafi where animals from Wajir came for water in our constituency. Unfortunately, they don’t abide by the rules. Yes, we have no problem sharing resources within our areas with our brothers from other parts of the country but then they must follow the laid down procedures, failure to do that is what leads to this clashes you see,” he said.
Yakub called on the national and county governments to allocate more funds to address the drought situation, saying the situation is bound to be worse in the coming days.
The latest report from National Drought Management Authority says drought has worsened because of failed or inadequate rains for four straight seasons.
The most affected counties are Garissa,Wajir,Mandera,Tana river, Isiolo,Kajiado, Marsabit,Kitui,Makueni,Meru,Narok,Taita Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi.
The drought has also has also had adverse effects on the food security in the affected areas, resulting in acute malnutrition.
Each community tends to protect the little remaining resources for their animals, and when members from another community try to get a slice of it, it leads to clashes. In some cases lives are lost and property destroyed.
