Newly appointed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya, on Wednesday, January 15, told Kenyans to stop sending photos of locusts to the government.
His statement contradicted former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, who suggested that Kenyans should take photos of locusts spreading in the country and post them on social media for verification following the locust invasion.
“If you see any insect that you suspect could be a locust, take a picture and post on social media so we can confirm for you what insect it really is,” Kiunjuri, who was relieved of his duties on Tuesday, January 14 stated.
In a statement to newsrooms, Munya announced that the government was using scientific measures to deal with the locust menace.
"Please stop sending us photos of locusts anymore, we already have competent people on the ground who are using scientific methods to identify them,” he stated.
Additionally, he stated that the government had dispatched two planes to spray the locusts in Isiolo and Meru.
“One aeroplane is at this moment being equipped with tanks headed for Garissa, Marsabit and Mandera counties. We want to contain them at where they are before spreading,” he remarked.
Munya also noted that the government was planning to hire four more planes and release over 20,000 litres of pesticide.
“The ministry has moved in to acquire four additional aircraft for surveillance of the locusts which is necessary as it will help sight them before spraying.
“We have one aircraft from Kenya Wildlife Service, two from Kenya Pipeline and one from Kenya Forest Services,” added Munya.
He went ahead and refuted claims that the locusts had been sighted in Turkana.
