Ukambani farmers smile all the way to their farms

Published on

By Daniel Nzia

Torrential rains have pounded Ukambani in the past two weeks following a long spell of drought.

The rains have brought hope to thousands of residents who had desperate measures to survive the biting hunger due to the dry weather.

"The rains have brought life back. People now have water for their use and for their livestock," said Kioko Mutiso, a farmer.

The residents have for months depended on food donations from the Government, The Standard Group’s Mercy Train campaign, local leaders through Mutui Museo (good neighbour) initiative, among other well-wishers.

The famine situation, though not over, is no longer as threatening as it was a month ago.

Residents are able to harvest tender vegetables since the rains started.

A survey by The Standard revealed that fast-growing maize crops planted last month when the first rains hit the ground have started flowering.

Green cover

The farms look green with hope of overcoming the food crisis if the rains continue.

Wild animals, which had migrated due to severe drought, have returned to their usual habitats.

Many giraffes and wildebeests, which had encroached on Lukenya and Kapiti plains on the Mombasa-Nairobi road, have started returning to the Nairobi National Park.

Rivers and earth dams are now full, saving wananchi and the animals the agony of travelling miles away in search of water.

An ambitious water harvesting project in Makindu Division in Kibwezi District is now a success story.

Nine earth dams a Hindu Church of Kenya member, Mr V Kerai, mobilised the community to build are now full of water.

The residents of Kandager, Kilema and Kamboo villages are now able to plant vegetables around the dams for use and sell the surplus.

Kerai, who at the weekend inspected the project, encouraged the residents to plant trees to conserve water catchments.

Livestock farmers, whose animals were on the verge of death, are all smiles as the cattle recover from the effects of drought.

The prices of livestock, which had dropped drastically, have started stabilising. The price of the animals had dropped to between Sh1,000 and Sh1,500 before the rains.

But as wananchi look forward to bumper harvests they still have to grapple with increased food prices.

The price of a 90kg bag of maize that normally retail at Sh1,500 is now more than Sh3,000.