Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo on Tuesday flagged off 20 trucks of relief food to at least 24,000 households ravaged by drought.
Speaking to the Star, Governor Guyo said his administration came together and procured the food, which will be distributed to residents in 10 wards.
These are Wabera, Bulla Pesa, Chari, Cherab, Ngare Mara, Burat, Oldo, Garba Tulla, Kina and Sericho.
“Each household will get 5kg of rice, six packets of 2kg maize flour and one litre of cooking oil. It's not much but it will help families before the next consignment comes," he said.
In Garbatula subcounty 2,856 households will receive food aid, 5,000 in Merti, 2,016 in Oldonyiro, 3,400 in Sericho, 2,015 in Ngaremara and 6,000 in Isiolo Central.
The communities in these areas are predominantly pastoralists who depend on rearing of cows, goats, sheep and camels.
The prolonged dry spell has depleted nearly all pastures, threatening pastoralism, which is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the residents.
“Due to climate change and the frequent drought, those pastures and forages cannot grow. It’s like every year there is drought. However, my administration will intervene in any way we can to assist the people of Isiolo,” Guyo said.
Governor Guyo directed subcounty administrators, ward administrators and senior county officials to thoroughly monitor and ensure fairness in the distribution of food.
He said he will personally supervise and oversee distribution in most of the centres, adding that anyone found diverting food will be dealt with.
Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands occupy 80 per cent of the country’s landmass and are inhabited by nearly 10 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, the National Drought Management Authority reported that between October 2021 and February 2022, more than 70,000 animals died in Isiolo due to the drought.
An estimated 12,500 cattle, 20,600 goats, 42,700 sheep and 700 camels had died. The situation worsened when the October-December 2021 rains failed.
The majority of the deaths were recorded in October and November, the report shows.
The most affected areas were Chari, Cherab, Sericho, Oldonyiro, Garbatulla and Kinna wards.
Edited by A.N