Drought situation in Isiolo County raises alarm

18% of children below the age of five in Isiolo County are reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition, with the situation expected to worsen if the affected areas do not receive rainfall within the next one month.

According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), County Coordinator , Lordman Lekalkuli, some wards have not received any rainfall for over a year.

Lekalkuli has therefore warned that the persistent drought could start leading to deaths in the near future if the situation is not addressed urgently.

The County Coordinator noted that at least 103,000 people across the County are in dire need of food with school going children being forced to skip school as they move in search for water and pasture.

Isiolo County Governor Mohammed Kuti held that both County and National governments need to hasten drought management solutions and salvage the situation to avert deaths.

Kuti added that the county government is already carrying out water trucking in the affected areas to help mitigate the effects of the drought on people and livestock.

The county boss has however allayed fears of conflict amongst neighbouring communities due to the rising competition for water and pasture.