The Nation (Nairobi)
Peter Ng'etich
17 October 2002
Nairobi — More than 100,000 people in Baringo East Constituency face starvation due to prolonged drought, reports from the area indicate.
Herdsmen are driving their animals to neighbouring West Pokot, Turkana and Samburu districts in search of pasture.
More than 800 cows, goats and sheep are said to have died due to drought in the past month.
An outbreak of malaria has also hit the constituency where the main means of livelihood is pastoralism.
An employee of a local non-governmental organisation, Mr Makale Celemoi, appealed to the government and the World Food Programme to come to the rescue of the residents.
A senior official in the district commissioner's office confirmed the hunger, drought and the malaria outbreak in the region bordering Baringo East constituency.
He said wells should be dug in the constituency to reduce nomadism. They would also assist in maintaining peace in the region.
Mr Celemoi said hunger had been worsened by the teachers' strike as pupils no longer fed in schools.
He said drought had stalled all economic activities in the area and urged the government and NGOs to initiate sustainable income generating projects.
Mr Celemoi said Pokot herdsmen had driven more than 5,000 animals to Akuret in Turkana District, Malaso on the border of Turkana, Pokot and Samburu districts and Akiriamet in Kerio Valley to look for pasture. He feared that this could spark conflicts among various communities.
The Baringo DC was not available for comment.
He said their pleas to the area MP Mr Lotodo for aiding has fallen to deaf hears since he is campaigning for Cabinet Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
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