Wajir locust invasion: Police deployed to shoot in the air, lob teargas – VIDEO

Residents of Wajir County have resorted to desperate measures to deal with the locust invasion in the area as they await the government’s intervention.

Police officers were Thursday seen firing bullets in the air to scare away the swarms of locusts that are threatening to wipe out all vegetation in the area.

At the same time, local residents were captured shouting, clapping, whistling and striking metal objects hoping the destructive pests will fly away.

Meanwhile, in Mandera County the government has deployed one helicopter to sprinkle insecticides in a bid to rid the area of the locusts that continue to leave a trail of destruction.

The helicopter is expected in Wajir next week with the most affected areas being Griftu, Gurar and Tarbaj.

According to officials in Wajir, the locusts moved around for close to two hours before settling 8 to 10 kilometers away from Kutulo town.

On December 18, the Food and Agriculture Organisation had warned that locusts would invade countries within the Horn of Africa.

A statement on their website further cautioned that the situation could worsen if not controlled by national authorities.

The locust invasion was first reported in Somalia, which then spread to Northern Kenya.

FAO has warned that the locusts could increase towards the end of January.