Turkana residents flee homes to Uganda to escape hunger

By Silah Koskei

TURKANA, KENYA: Over 50,000 residents of Turkana have fled their homes to neighbouring Uganda to escape the vagaries of the ongoing drought in the area.

They are currently camping in Northern Uganda in search of food and water as well as pasture for their animals as the famine situation escalates in major parts of the region.

A spot check in many households in the County on Thursday revealed that most villages worst hit by the famine are currently deserted. 

Loima MP Protus Akuja said that pastoralists had crossed over to neighbouring countries after failing to access food and pastures for their animals in the now dry and inhabitable area.

He lauded the generosity by the Ugandan government that has continued to host Kenyan pastoralists despite their large numbers adding that the move was reflecting badly on the Kenyan government.

He blamed the government for failing to take preventive measures to cushion its citizens from the famine that had been predicted by the weatherman last year.

"It is ironical that our counterparts in Uganda are quick to provide solutions to pastoralists compared to Kenyan government which is always found flat footed," he said.

Akuja also took a swipe at the county government for failing to mitigate the reeling effects on the pastoral community.

 "The county is best placed to provide measures on how to counter the prolonged drought instead of abdicating their roles and blaming the national government," he stated.

Turkana West deputy Commissioner Mohammed Darah said the cross border migration by local pastoralists has been possible following constant talks with the two governments on the need to share available water and pasture.

"The cross border initiative has brought mutual understanding and cohesion between the two pastoral groups each time famine hits Turkana," he stated.

Darah revealed that food security is worsening in Turkana County and most pastoralists have moved to Uganda and are under the custody of Ugandan government and receiving food and water for their animals and children.

"The neighbouring country for the second time has provided assistance to our pastoralists as a short term measure on the ongoing drought in the region," he stated.

He however revealed that a sizeable number of Turkana residents mainly the aged and sick were left at home to counter hunger and are very vulnerable.

"It is unfortunate that the weak are left at home at the center of food crisis because they cannot manage to walk long distance with empty stomachs," he noted.

Darah noted that Kenyan pastoralists in Uganda are at will graze their animals in Uganda until when there will be provisions of pasture in their region.

"There is normally no payment in return, it is a favour and agreement between the two groups in combating the perennial famine," he stated.

He added that ongoing relations have seen the two groups exchange animals for food thus promoting income for the two communities.