More than 150,000 residents of West Pokot County are in dire need of food following crop failure as leaders call for humanitarian aid to deal with impending hunger. West Pokot County Agriculture and Pastoral Economy CEC Mr. Geoffrey Lipale said they have conducted an assessment in the whole County and 80% of the County is affected by food shortage.
According to World Food Program and UNICEF report, most affected areas are Riwo, Kacheliba in Pokot North and Masol, Turkwel area and lower Sook in Central Pokot Sub Counties. Lipale called on the humanitarian organizations to help in distributing relief food in the affected areas. “We have started distributing food but 5000 bags of maize in our stores are not enough and they’ll be finished within a week,” he said.
Speaking to the press in Kapenguria, Lipale expressed concern over the increasing number of people facing starvation in the area. “Next Week we are meeting with national government officers to put mitigation measures,” he said.
Lipale pointed out that the County government cannot afford to fully respond to the situation since it doesn’t have the capacity to distribute enough food.
The CEC appealed to the national Government through the National Drought Management Authority, Disaster preparedness and the Ministry of Devolution and any other concerned authorities to move with speed so as to assess the situation and put in mitigation measures.
Ombolion area Chief Joseph Korikimul said that the situation has affected learning in schools and many children are dropping out of school. “There is no food in schools hence children forced to look for food with their parents,” he said.
He said widows and orphans are the most affected and locals have not received any help. “Locals in Kases,Takaywa,Lonyangalem,Toko
Kacheliba Member of Parliament Mark Lomunokol said that it was shocking how thousands of maize farms that had potential to produce had fallen short of expectations.
The MP said that school feeding programs should be increased, “The situation has worsened and there is the need for the government urgently intervene and help the locals,” he noted.