•Mwambire said the situation has also resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict.
•The subcounty has recorded a surge in livestock migration from Garissa and Mandera counties who have been camping there in search of pasture.
Image: ELIAS YAA
Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire has called for quick interventions to address hunger and starvation in the area.
Speaking in Mrima wa Ndege during the groundbreaking of the chief’s office, Mwambire said the situation is dire after the failed rainy season.
“In Ganze, we registered total crop failure. Some areas have never received rainfall for the last three years,” he said.
“Many people prepared their farms and even planted but in most areas, the crops did not germinate.”
The MP said people have started dying of hunger though the matter is treated with privacy.
He said one person has already died in Vitengeni division.
“Last week I was called to assist take an old man to the hospital. Upon examination, it was established that he was starving. He had not had meals for days,” he said.
The old man was buried on Sunday in Mrima wa Ndege
Mwambire said the situation has also resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict.
“We have seen wild animals move from Tsavo in Taita Taveta to areas in Ganze which we have never heard of those animals cross to,” he said.
“Elephants now maraud to Matanomane and Bale which are miles away from Tsavo because there is no food even for the wild animals in the park and the buffer zones.”
Mitangani retired senior chief Joseph Mwachanze said the area is hard hit.
“We have no food or water. All the water pans have dried up. The area has not received rainfall for over three years and we have no piped water,” he said.
“The nearest we can get water is 19 kilometres from here. We have moved our livestock to other areas bordering Kaloleni subcounty in search of water and pasture as our animals are emaciated.”
The subcounty has recorded a surge in livestock migration from Garissa and Mandera counties who have been camping there in search of pasture.
Mitangani has over 3000 camels, cattle, goats and sheep from the two counties.
Kauma Location chief in Jaribuni division Moses Chitole said the division recorded total crop failure.
Chitole said the area is severely affected by drought.
In February, the National Drought Management Authority warned of a drought situation in Baringo, Isiolo, Kilifi, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir and Turkana.
The bulletin is prepared by the National Drought Management Authority.
According to the bulletin, from April the county was in moderate drought.
“On average the county recorded moderate vegetation deficit, four subcounties fell within the moderate vegetation deficit while Ganze, Kaloleni and Kilifi South recorded severe vegetation deficit,” the bulletin read.
“The vegetation condition was below compared to the same time last year.”
Livestock farmers have also been affected as pasture conditions recorded a decline in quality and quantity compared to the previous month mostly in the first and second days of May.
Devolution, public service and disaster management executive Gabriel Katana said the county has already initiated a proactive role in arresting the situation.
“We foresaw this and already a committee led by the Agriculture executive is in place to roll out measures ahead of drought,” Katana said.
“We are doing a multi-sectoral approach to the situation and all departments are involved. Drought touches on all the departments.”
He said the rains are poor and crops are in bad condition which calls for early planning.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris