Governor declares hunger county disaster

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has declared hunger a disaster in the county.

Mr Abdullahi made the announcement on Sunday after a week-long tour of the county.

Speaking in Kursi town in Wajir West, Mr Abdullahi said in the last couple of months the county has tried to emasculate the effects of the drought by drilling emergency boreholes to tap water, but it has not helped.

“I want to declare a state of drought emergency in Wajir County. In the last couple of months we have tried our best to reduce its effects by drilling emergency boreholes and also through water tapping but the situation is worsening,” he said.

The governor said from today (Monday) the county will hire water boozers to serve livestock areas, as an emergency response.

Speaking to the Nation on phone, Wajir Executive for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Yusuf Abdi Gedi, said the dry spell was "catching up" with them and immediate action had to be taken.

Mr Abdi said although the county has decided to supply water and hay to the farmers in different parts of the county, the burden will be "so heavy" if it fails to rain in the next two weeks.

He also said the county is will partner with the World Food Programme to supply relief food to 40 areas within the sub-counties.

He called on the national government to step in to tackle the problem.

“I call on the national government to come to our aid by supplying us with food because the situation is getting out of control,” he said.