Leaders from Marsabit are appealing to both state and non-state actors to assist starving residents before it is too late.
Speaking in Maikona location during a relief food distribution, North Horr MP Wario Guyo expressed fear over the fate of his constituents noting that if more relief food is not availed, then lives would be in danger.
“My appeal goes to government, NGOs and other well-wishers to come to the aid of these starving residents. What we have just distributed is too little compared to the population that is need of food. It is a drop in the ocean,” he said.
Guyo said the previous drought that was followed by floods swept away hundreds of livestock, which is the community’s only source of income, rendering them destitute.
He said since then, it has been difficult for them to rise again since majority are poor and don’t have the funds to restock and start over.
Former Maikona senior chief Konchora Guracha said many households in the region were living in abject poverty following the massive losses of their livestock in the severe droughts that had hit them between 2019 and 2023.
“Most families in this area are anxious over another drought especially amidst the ongoing donor fund freezes,” Konchora said.
“The future looks bleak for our people as several local NGOs operating in the region have halted their operations amid the international donor fund freezes by the US government,” he said.
The situation had also affected had Dawah Organisation chairperson Issa Ishmael, appealed to other humanitarian aid agencies to come to the aid of the affected households saying residents still need assistance in form of food and non-food items.
During the Ramadan Relief Foodpack distribution, the organisation gave rice, wheat floor, corn oil, packs of tea leaves and packets of salt to 4,000 beneficiaries.
During his visit to Sololo and Moyale last week where he presided over the launch of a water borehole and three military water bowsers, the National Drought Management Authority CEO Hared Adan said the drought situation in the 23 arid and semi arid counties in Kenya was slowly moving towards the alert phase. He warned of impending dire impacts should the March-April rain be suppressed.
