Families flee Baringo, Turkana as drought bites

12 counties mostly in Northern Kenya are staring at severe drought and lack of water.

The harsh weather conditions that have persisted for months have hit families many opting to move away from their homes in search of water and food.

On Thursday, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa revealed that an estimated 160,000 people are facing imminent starvation.

In Kangirisae, Turkana County, persistent water deficit has choked life out of the earth, for days now families have had little or nothing at all to eat.

Goats nibble at what is left of the dried up vegetation as children collect the little water they can get to quench their thirst but the available water is not enough.

The situation has deteriorated in the past weeks in parts of northern Kenya experiencing in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, a trend weather experts had earlier warned will hit pastoralists’ areas hard.

A similar devastating hunger and lack water has weighed in on families and even wild animals in Baringo.

There’s a looming human wildlife conflict as residents say in the quest of water, wild animals such as this elephant have strayed off the bush and have destroyed their properties and the little they could manage to grow under the harsh weather conditions.

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa however says authorities have mapped out 12 counties worst hit by drought and ravaging hunger.

“We are moving with speed to ensure that help is on the way,” said CS Eugene.

Three people have so far reportedly starved to death in Turkana County.