Arms drive put off as State rolls up sleeves to fight food shortage

By Peter Atsiaya and Daniel Nzia

The Government has suspended the disarmament programme in Pokot and Turkana to deal with food shortage facing the counties.

"The State has put on hold the disarmament programme to use resources and personnel to help save lives in the famine stricken region," North Rift Deputy PC Wilson Wanyanga said on the telephone.

He, however, said the situation was under control adding no deaths from hunger had been reported.

He said lorries used by security personnel to undertake disarmament would be transporting relief food supplied by the Government to the needy.

"Some of the camps used by the officers would be turned into dropping points for relief food," Wanyanga added.

He said most pastoralists targeted in the disarmament had moved to eastern Uganda with their livestock in search of water and pasture.

Cattle rustling

He added that security situation worsened by cattle rustling had improved since the disarmament was launched.

"Cases of cattle rustlers attacking residents or fights among the Pokot and Turkana communities are minimal since the security operation was launched," said the administrator.

He added that feeding programmes in schools that were suspended had resumed.

He added that the Government in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) was monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, a team of experts is in Makueni Country to assess the famine situation.

Local Drought Management Officer Daniel Mbuvi said the Rapid Food Security Assessment team is on a fact-finding mission in the county’s five constituencies.

He said the group comprises officers from the ministries of Water and Agriculture, World Food Programme, the Kenya Red Cross Society and Food Agriculture Organisation.

Mbuvi told The Standard on the telephone that the team was expected to come up with a comprehensive report by Friday.

Meanwhile, Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki has asked the Government to declare the crisis a national disaster.

Prof Kaloki expressed fears the famine could lead to deaths unless victims get relief food.

Speaking to The Standard on the telephone, the MP urged the Government to come up with a master plan to ensure food security.

He said he had teamed up with Makueni MP Peter Kiilu to explore the possibility of constructing two dams along River Athi to help in irrigation.

"We have presented a document on this project to the Government for funding. This will solve the perennial food shortage in the region", he added.

Kaloki praised the State for establishing a Sh300 million irrigation project at Kisayani near Kibwezi’s University of Nairobi campus, saying it will improve agriculture.

Leaders have called for bold action in Eastern Province and families bear the brunt of famine.

Key rivers and dams Eastern have dried up, forcing residents to trek long distances in search of water for livestock and domestic use.

Athi River, which traverses the region, has dried up in some of its sections in Machakos, Kangundo, Yatta and Kitui districts.