Locusts now invade Mandera

A swarm of locusts have reportedly invaded Rhamu area of Mandera County, causing panic among residents and farmers.

The locusts were spotted in the area on Saturday evening and are said to have emerged from Lafey sub-county.

According to farmers in the area, the locusts invaded their onion farms for the better part of Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Mohammed Noor, one of the affected farmers, urged the national government to move with speed and assist in curbing the menace.

Noor further dismissed the spraying activity saying county governments lack the technical know-how to conduct it and operate the sophisticated equipment.

He said the only sure way of containing the insects is through aerial spraying which, according to him, is easier and covers a wider area.

Abdullahi Mohammed, a pastoralist, said they are now staring at a possible drought since the pasture they got from last year’s rainfall is being consumed by the locusts.

Mandera County Director of Agriculture Diisow Noor has since admitted that as a county they do not have the capacity to fight the locusts, only appealing to the president to declare the invasion a national disaster.

He said lack of enough personnel and equipment remains a big challenge in the fight to contain the locusts which breed at a very high rate.

CS Kiunjuri thinks locust Invasion is a joke. This video shot in Mandera powerfully demonstrates the menace Kenyans are fighting….. pic.twitter.com/GhcBymbdiD

— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) January 11, 2020