Over 70,000 people face starvation in Laikipia

This could lead to the closing of primary and secondary schools in the constituency as parents move with their children.PHOTO: COURTESY

An estimated 70,000 people are facing starvation in Laikipia North following failed rains.

And learning may soon be disrupted as residents migrate in search of water and pasture for their livestock.

This could lead to the closing of primary and secondary schools in the constituency as parents move with their children.

According to nominated MP Sarah Lekorere who comes from the region, the drought has hit hard for the last three months.

“We have not received rain for the last few months and now the residents are facing starvation. The animals have started dying as there is not enough pasture and water,” she said.

She said more than 2,000 animals had been reported dead in the region.

Speaking as she assessed the situation yesterday, Ms Lekorere said rivers in the region had dried up.

 DRYING RIVERS

“The situation has been worsened by the drying up of the rivers whose source is River Uaso Nyiro,” she said.

The MP called on the national government to act urgently and provide relief food for residents.

“We don’t want to hear food is only being supplied to Turkana and other areas. The government must know that our people are facing starvation too,” she said.

She regretted that the state had failed to provide a permanent solution to the drought problem in the region 50 years after independence.

Lekorere said every year, residents were faced with famine and it was time a permanent solution was found.

She feared that the drought might also affect education standards in the region if schools closed down.

“I have received calls from school heads intending to close down,” she noted.