By: Herman Ngatia
As the rampaging drought continues to bite, details are slowly emerging that to date, a total of 4.35 million Kenyans are currently affected by drought.
Out of that figure, 960,000 children are malnourished and are in dire need of food.
East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano says nine counties including Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Isiolo, Wajir, Samburu, Kitui and Kajiado are the worst hit.
“This is the worst drought in four decades and there is a need to scale up the mitigation measures put in place,” Miano told a press conference in her office on Wednesday.
Miano added that Garissa, Lamu, Laikipia and Tharaka Nithi counties were in the alert situation while Baringo and West Pokot have slid from alert to warning situation.
At the same time, the government has revealed that 2.5 million wildlife are also affected as pasture and livestock deteriorate in Kajiado and Kwale counties.
“The National & County Governments with support of development partners, private sector, non-state actors and Kenyans of good will are scaling up drought response interventions to cushion lives and livelihoods of those affected by the drought situation in the country.
Together with my team, we have mapped out affected counties, sub-counties and wards to improve targeting and response.
Our priority interventions are informed by findings gathered by the County Steering Groups, chaired by area Governors,” she said.
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