A starving elderly woman in Nginyang in East Pokot, Baringo County, is happy to have something to calm hunger pangs following famine in the area. [Photo: Antony Gitonga/Standard]

By Robert Kiplagat and Leonard Kulei

Baringo, Kenya: More than 50,000 residents of East Pokot, Baringo County, are in dire need of emergency relief food following prolonged drought in the area.

The delay of rains in the semi-arid area has led to vegetation and water dams drying  up, with Amaya, Churo, Silale, Kositei, Akoret and Naudo being the worst-hit areas.

Herders are also said to have moved to neighbouring districts within the county such as Marigat and Baringo North in search of water and pasture.

Hunger-related deaths

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Area Sub-county Commissioner Daniel Kurui told The Standard the situation has been deteriorating by the day, and called for urgent intervention to save residents.

The commissioner however, refuted claims of hunger-related deaths. “The hunger is really bad and each farmer has lost an average of 30 goats, but nobody has lost his or her life,” said Kurui.

He said the national Government is set to distribute 300 bags of maize and 150 bags of beans to the affected families and called on well-wishers to help mitigate the hunger crisis as the food relief was not sufficient.

“We are therefore calling on Kenyans of goodwill to hold a food aid drive like the 2012 Kenyans for Kenya initiative,” added Kurui.

He said the water in some dams has been contaminated and pose a health risk to the locals, adding that several cases of diarrhoea have already been reported in the area.

About 10 schools in Mondi division are yet to reopen as the pastoralist community in the region has relocated to other areas in search of water and pasture.

Low turnout

“Schools have opened for the second term but only a handful of learners have reported back owing to the hunger situation. Schools have food but there is no water and we are appealing to Ministry of Water to supply the commodity,” said Richard Ptekwenyo, area Education Officer.

Various parts of Baringo County such as Bartabwa and Arabal in Marigat are also facing famine due to the erratic rainfall.

Area Red Cross Society of Kenya official also refuted claims that seven people have died in the wake of the hunger.