Kiunjuri on Holiday as Locusts Invade North Eastern- Duale

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Friday, January 3, blamed Agriculture Cabinet Mwangi Kiunjuri for the escalating invasion by locusts in the North-Eastern region.

In a story by Daily Nation, Duale stated that the CS was still on holiday, leaving the critical issue unattended to.

“This is a serious crisis that must be addressed urgently. Mr Kiunjuri and his principal secretary should not continue to be on holiday as the people in North Eastern suffer,” Duale remarked.

“So far the two have not spoken, they have not done anything to write home about,” the MP was quoted.

The Garissa Town parliamentarian also stated that Mandera’s six constituencies have been invaded by the locusts which were also spreading to Wajir East, Tarbaj and Wajir West constituencies in Wajir County and parts of Garissa County.

“God has given us rain that saw vegetation sprout and now the locusts have descended on it fomenting danger to our own food security as well as our animals.

“The CS and his PS must be called to action. The ministry is always quiet when there are issues affecting the country,” added Duale.

He further warned that the locusts may spread to other parts of the country if mitigative measures are not put in place.

However, Kiunjuri, while speaking to Daily Nation refuted claims that his ministry delayed in taking action. 

The minister further indicated that insecurity in the area required much time for briefs from the security team on the ground before conducting aerial sprays, after monitoring and establishing the insects’ breeding grounds.

“I want to tell the residents of North Eastern Kenya that our team is already on the ground to deal with the locusts. There should be no worry,” defended Kiunjuri.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, a swarm of the deadly locusts may contain up to 150 million locusts per square kilometre and can migrate up to about 130 kilometres in a day.

FAO also estimates that 500,000 of these insects can weigh approximately one tonne, consuming on as much as 10 elephants or 25 camels or even 2,500 people.