Residents of Yatta Sub-County, Machakos county are facing a looming hunger crisis after the semi-arid region went through several farming seasons without adequate rainfall, leaving most households without food and income.
Yatta, which lies in the dry Ukambani region, has experienced persistent drought, with residents saying the short December rains failed to support crop production.
Farmers report that almost all crops planted during the last season dried up, worsening an already dire food situation.
Led by Mercy Muthoni, the residents said families are surviving on hope, as poverty and hunger continue to rise.
Many local households cannot afford regular meals, forcing children to go to bed hungry, while others rely on occasional food assistance from neighbours or relatives.
“We planted crops in December, hoping the rains would help us, but everything failed. There is nothing to harvest. At the moment, we are just hoping for help because there is no food,” said Muthoni
Muthike Mukavi, another resident, said the hunger situation has also affected school attendance and learning. Children not only struggle to concentrate in class due to lack of food at home, but also reportedly miss school altogether because their families cannot provide meals.
The residents and local stakeholders are now appealing to the government to urgently provide food aid, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming months.
They say there is no food to last families until the expected April rains, making immediate intervention necessary.
“As the government distributes relief food to arid and semi-arid counties, we are appealing that Yatta should not be forgotten,” said a community leader.
“People here are suffering, and without food aid, many families will not cope,” said David Kaloki, another resident.
Despite the harsh conditions, agricultural stakeholders led by Anastacia Muendo, from the Presidential Economic Transformation Team (PETT) are encouraging residents to change farming practices to survive future droughts.
She advised farmers not to rely on rain-dependent crops, but instead diversify into drought-resistant foods such as sorghum, millet, and cassava.
Muendo also urged farmers to grow cash crops that can withstand dry conditions, including sunflower, soya and cotton to help households earn income, even during poor rainfall seasons.
By Muoki Charles
