Marsabit leaders have said security lapses along the Isiolo-Marsabit-Moyale highway are preventing the donation of relief food to residents at a time when they are facing severe drought.
Inter-community feuds haves intensified in the recent past, resulting in the déaths of nine people in the month of November according to Marsabit Deputy County Commissioner David Saruni.
Golloh Wario, the former Chief of Bubisa Location termed the relief food situation as dire.
“Those who have money are unable to deliver food to our people because they fear being attacked along the road,” said Wario.
He spoke at Bubisa town on Monday when residents received human and livestock food donation from local investors under the Giston Energy company which is building a wind and solar project in the area.
“With power generated by Giston Energy, we shall be able to mine underground water resources and set up irrigation points for our people to ensure an all-year-round supply of pasture, whether it rains or not,” said Roba Elema, a local businessman and board member of Gitson Energy.
The leaders said they felt cut off from the rest of the world and left to dié. “We can no longer travel with ease or to even go buy food in Marsabit town and nearly all our animals have perished as a result of drought,” said Mr Wario.
Gitson Energy Managing Director for Kenya Michael Ndiritu promised to provide a sustainable solution to the perennial hunger issue once the project starts.
“The massive déaths of the livestock we have witnessed is unacceptable. We shall provide a lasting solution to this problem,” he said.
On September 8, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought affecting parts of the country a national disastér.
Consequently, the President instructed The National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to spearhead Government efforts to assist affected households including water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.
The decision was made after Kenyatta met with 85 leaders from Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), led by Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani.
According to Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority records, at least 2 million Kenyans have been hit hard by the drought condition that persisted in several parts of the country.
Read: Cabinet tasks Matiang’i to lead drought response efforts
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