MARALAL, Kenya, Apr 11 – Five people have starved to death in Samburu district owing to the prevailing drought in the country.
Nominated MP Maison Leshomo said more deaths may be reported if urgent measures are not put into place to arrest the situation.
"Over 50,000 people in the district are in dire need of relief food and even livestock have not been spared," Mrs Leshomo said.
Speaking to Capital News from Maralal town, the legislator appealed to well wishers to come to the aid of the starving community.
Samburu District Commissioner Thomas Macheneri said Loroki and Kirisia divisions were the most affected by the drought.
"Many families here are struggling to find food for a single meal to see them through the next sunrise," he said.
The two leaders spoke after a relief food distribution exercise organized by the Kenya Red Cross.
"This area has been experiencing drought for a very long time and if urgent attention is not provided, the situation may worsen," Mrs Leshomo said.
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Her sentiments were echoed by the Assistant minister for Provincial Administration Simeon Lesirma who observed that cattle rustling cases have reduced as herders count looses with livestock dying due to a lack of pasture.
He said the price of livestock had gone down as animals had been emaciated by the drought.
"Nobody can buy a dying cow that has not had anything to eat for several days. Automatically this means the animals are underweight and cannot meet the requirements for local consumption," he said.
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