State should declare a state of emergency on drought

Turkana region seen in this undated photo [Courtesy]

The drought season is with us again. The arid region has received less than average rainfall and for communities that depend on rainwater and pasture, this means less fodder for the livestock and in turn less food.

Due to climate change, the frequency of drought has increased and so has the level of vulnerability. The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), in its early warning bulletin, has announced that some areas of northern Kenya are in severe pasture deficit mode. The shortage of pasture and water for pastoralist communities means migration is search for pasture in neighbouring rangelands.