‘Those are grasshoppers’: Kirinyaga County Gov’t rubbishes claims of locust invasion

Kirinyaga County government has dismissed reports that insects recently spotted in the region are locusts.

According to the Governor Anne Waiguru-led administration, agricultural experts have identified the insects as longhorn grasshoppers.

Speaking on Tuesday after visiting Riandira village where a farmer claimed to have spotted locusts, Kirinyaga Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri added that the alleged grasshoppers not only resemble desert locusts but are also equally dangerous.

He stated that the voracious feeders were destroying crops, further assuring farmers that the insects will be contained as the relevant experts have already been alerted.

Panic on Sunday gripped residents of Riandira village in Mwea after Isaac Ndung’u, a farmer, claimed to have spotted a swarm of locusts on his farm.

Mr. Ndung’u expressed fear that the locusts may destroy their maize, rice, coffee and napier grass.