Marsabit and Kajiado counties have lost more than 40 per cent of their livestock to the ongoing drought, according to the latest data from the National Drought Management Authority.
The data says that since the start of the drought, more than 2.6 million herds of cattle, sheep, goats and camels have died in the 23 arid and semi-arid lands counties.
The other affected counties are Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir and Mandera, with fears that the numbers could rise further in the coming days if the situation does not change.
As per the data, of the total 52.8 million livestock in the ASAL counties, residents had already lost 2.6 million due to the ravaging drought.
“The drought situation has continued to worsen in 22 of the 23 ASAL counties due to the high temperatures and the fifth failed rains,” the report says.
Due to the prevailing situation, NDMA says two counties of Marsabit and Turkana had slid to the emergency drought phase.
Nine counties of Kitui, Kajiado, Kilifi, Makueni, Mandera, Samburu, Tana River, Wajir and Isiolo are in alarm drought phase.
As per the drought agency, 11 counties, including Baringo, Garissa, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Meru, Narok, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, West Pokot and Embu were now in the alert drought phase.
“The people in need of assistance in the ASALs stands at 4.4 million while acute malnutrition stands at 970,214 children aged six to 59 months and 142,179 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers,” the report reads.
The drought agency says the prices of livestock in Embu, Kajiado, Kilifi, Laikipia, Marsabit, Meru, Samburu and Tana River counties had dropped sharply due to the drought.
“The current cattle prices are below normal in most of the counties in comparison to similar periods during a normal year,” the report says.
Earlier, Arid and Semi Arid Lands Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said that the government had released an additional Sh2 billion to secure relief food and distribution for affected counties.
She added that NDMA would provide livestock feed supplements and implement water- related interventions with funding from the National Drought Emergency Fund and the European Union.
“The effects of below-average rainfall seasons have led to depletion of pasture and browse in most ASAL counties, which has resulted in poor body condition of livestock and widespread mortality,” the CS said.
Miano said the ministry was in the process of dispatching 60,480 bags (50kg) of livestock feed supplements worth Sh145 million to eight ASAL counties.
“We have already dispatched feeds to Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado, Marsabit and Isiolo, and finalizing logistics for dispatch to Mandera, Wajir and Nyeri counties,” Miano said.
