By Alloys Musyoka
Locals living in areas affected by drought in Kwale have called on the
national government and other well-wishers to intervene and save their
lives
It is estimated that more than 179,000 people in Kwale county are
facing starvation with 20 percent of the population being in the food
crisis stage due to the ongoing drought ravaging the country.
The situation is worsened by failed rains with dams that are used to
store rain and river water dries up completely.
Livestock are not spared since there is no grass anymore for them to
feed with locals hoping that the county and national government will
intervene before the situation gets out of hand.
Areas affected by drought include Kinango, Samburu, Lungalunga and
Matuga sub-counties in Kwale.
Nyanje Mwavuda from Makamini said that the majority of man-made water
pans are dry and locals are forced to look for water many kilometers
away for both livestock and domestic use.
“We don’t have food because there has been no rain for a long time.
The land is totally dry even though our cattle are suffering a lot,”
he added.DSC_1131
He said that well-wishers should help them to ensure that no lives are lost.
Locals claim that available water sources are too far away after man
made dams dried up with natural water sources also drying up.
According to Rachael Bakari from Samburu those highly affected by the
drought situation are women and school going children who walk for a
long distance to look for water for their families.
She said that school going children are forced to remain at home and
fetch water because of the situation of missing lessons in school.
“If Makamini dam is completed we are very sure the issue of water in
some parts of Kinango will be a thing of the past. We want the
government to intervene urgently,” she pleaded.
Salama Nguta from Matumbi area in Kinango said that they are going for
days without food because of the problem urging the government to
urgently provide relief food to affected areas.
