Insecurity, land grab, pastoralists neglect root of Turkana woes

Turkana County is back in the news, and once again, it is for all the wrong reasons. Reports of widespread famine threatening lives and livelihoods are an all too familiar story coming from the largest county in the republic. Outrage, shame and disgust at the plight of the suffering have dominated the airwaves at a time when, in the words of John Githongo, ‘never has there been so much stolen by so few from so many in the history of the republic.’

The rush by politicians and officials to promise swift interventions indicates that the government has remembered it is accountable to its citizens, yet will only act when forced and embarrassed into doing so. Deputy President William Ruto insists that no one has died of hunger, but who in heaven’s name believes him?