Murang’a County Commissioner’s office in partnership with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has activated a county drought response steering committee, following the worsening dry spell that has left thousands of local households, facing food and water shortages.
The move comes after several parts of the county experienced total crop failure during the last rain season, raising concerns over food security and the wellbeing of both residents and livestock.
According to local administrators, the hardest hit areas include Ithanga, Kakuzi, Maragua Ridge, Kambiti and parts of Kandara Sub County, where thousands of homesteads are now in need of relief food.
Residents in these regions depend largely on rain-fed agriculture and the prolonged dry conditions have destroyed crops, leaving families with little, or no harvest.
Speaking during activation of the committee, which brought together various stakeholders, Murang’a East Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Charles Muriithi who represented the County Commissioner, Hassan Bule, said the steering committee has been tasked with establishing the exact number of households in need of food and water assistance across the affected areas.
“The committee will conduct a detailed assessment to determine the number of families and institutions including schools that require immediate support,” said Muriithi.
The DCC added that the committee will also focus on mobilizing resources to support the distribution of relief food, clean water and other essential supplies to the affected families.
Muriithi called on all stakeholders including national and county government departments, humanitarian organizations, community leaders and the private sector, to work together in responding to the crisis.
“The government is closely monitoring the situation. We are appealing to all stakeholders to mobilize resources and support the affected families before the situation worsens,” he said.
The drought has also hit the local livestock sector hard, with more than 100,000 herds reported to be in urgent need of pasture and water.
The county livestock officers are warning that the continued shortage of grazing land and water poses a serious threat to animal health and livelihoods.
The County Assistant Director of Livestock, Vincent Muohi, who addressed the meeting, revealed that about 60 per cent of livestock in the region, were currently at the risk of contracting diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin disease due to stress caused by inadequate pasture and water.
“The movement of animals in search of pasture and water increases the risk of disease outbreaks,” Muohi added, calling for urgent vaccination of livestock to prevent further losses.
He observed that the situation has been worsened by an influx of livestock from neighbouring counties, as herders move into Murang’a in search of grazing land.
The Assistant Director warned that competition for limited resources could trigger conflicts between communities if not properly managed.
He noted conflicts over pasture and water are likely to rise if the dry spell persists, urging communities to exercise restraint and cooperate with government agencies, even as the government puts the relevant mitigation measures in place.
The steering committee is expected to roll out immediate interventions, while also developing longer-term strategies to cushion residents against future droughts, in the wake of climate change that continues to affect rainfall patterns across the region.
By Bernard Munyao
