Eldas MP Adan Keynan on Tuesday, October 27, called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare the drought a national disaster as it was affecting the livelihoods of residents in the northern region of the country.
During an interview, the legislator urged the president to take action and urgently implement drought mitigation measures to avert possible losses of wealth and livelihoods.
"The short rains have failed and the livelihoods of the pastoralists at risk right now," he stated.
He further stated that a directive by the Drought Management Authority for livestock farmers to destock their animals was not practical.
"The directive is good but the challenge is, where do the farmers sell their animals?" he posed.
Keynan, who also serves as Secretary of the Jubilee Parliamentary Group caucus, stated that he was in support of the recent military takeover of the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) which he says would fix where the civilian infrastructure has failed.
His sentiments come days after Wajir County revealed that it had set aside a Ksh150 million emergency fund to help in the fight against drought in parts of the county.
The effects of the drought have been felt with water pans and dams drying up as well as breakdowns of boreholes.
Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi stated that they were expecting depressed rainfall in the coming rain season.
"To this effect, we have set aside Ksh150 million which will help us in contingency planning. I believe this is a step in the right direction considering the current situation," he stated.
He further called on the national government and other partners to step in and help the pastoralist communities as they brace themselves for drought.
On the other hand, the weatherman issued an advisory for more rainfall expected to fall in Western, Central (including Nairobi area), North Eastern, North Western and Coastal regions of Kenya.
