Save Pokot residents from starvation, senator pleads with State

By Wilberforce Netya

West Pokot, Kenya: The Government has been asked to provide relief food to residents of Pokot North, who have been affected by ongoing dry spell.

The area has been hit by scarcity of water and food. West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo asked the Ministry of Devolution to provide food aid through the governor.

He noted that the drought that has affected residents of Turkana was also being experienced in Pokot.

Lonyangapuo disclosed that over 200,000 people in the northern parts of the county were starving due to the prolonged dry spell.

“You can see that this region is dry. We have heard from the media that our neighbours in Turkana have been given tonnes of relief food. We are experiencing same climatic conditions hence we are asking the Government to save Pokot residents.”

National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has indicated that the famine in Pokot region had reached an alert stage and something needed to be done in mitigation.

County NDMA coordinator Gabriel Mbogho disclosed that drought transforms from normal to alert, then alarm to emergency, which is the worst.

Pastoral communities

He pointed out that his office had involved stakeholders from different sectors in a contingency meeting that aimed at strategising activities that would help alleviate current situation.

Some of pastoral communities in Pokot region have reportedly migrated to the neighbouring Uganda in search of pasture and water.

A number of water reservoirs have dried due to the drought that has caused emaciation of people and livestock.

Mid last year, total crop failure was reported in the region as the rains subsided causing maize to wilt. Granaries have remained empty as no meaningful harvest was achieved.

Some of the areas affected by the dry spell include Ombolion, Kodich, Takaywa, Nauyapong, Orolwo and Alale in Kacheliba Constituency.