The government has begun distributing animal feeds to livestock farmers affected by drought in Marsabit County.
The government has bought 11,200 bags of animal feeds to cushion farmers against the adverse effects of drought.
East African Community Arid and Semi-Arid Land and Regional Government CS Rebeca Miano noted that the 2,800 families are expected to benefit.
Speaking during the launch of the exercise at the county headquarters on behalf of the CS, Marsabit acting County Commissioner David Saruni noted that households are expected to receive four bags of 50 kilograms each being the allocation for the month of February.
Mr Saruni noted that the government in partnership with development partners was committed to assisting the populations affected by the prolonged drought which has so far led to the death of 45 per cent of livestock in Marsabit County.
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Further, Saruni revealed that the Laisamis constituency had already received Its share while that for North Horr was in progress.
Allocations for Moyale and Saku constituencies were also in the process of disbursement.
Additionally, he stated that through the food for fees to schools, the government had so far managed an 89 per cent transition to secondary school of last year's KCPE candidates.
“We are working on ways to address challenges that include drought which have kept the remaining number away from class so that they can also transit,” he said.
On his part, Marsabit county drought management authority (NDMA) coordinator Henry Mustafa said the severe drought has left 309, 176 people in the county food insecure and who are in dire need of food aid.
He said that there has been a dry spell for five consecutive seasons in the county and the situation could be worse after rain projections showed that no meaningful rainfall was expected this season.
However, said that plans by the government to continuously avail emergency relief food and water to those reeling under famine were in place and that 1,600 students in 80 secondary schools were being assisted to pay tuition fees through the food-for-fees arrangement.
Mr Mustafa said children under five and now the rest of the population across the county were severely malnourished owing to a lack of adequate and quality food.
North Horr constituency has the highest rate of 30.3 per cent followed by Laisamis with 29.3 per cent.
In Moyale constituency the situation is no better as the malnutrition rate stands at 15 per cent while that of Saku is 8.3 per cent.
