Murang’a: Murang’a County Commissioner’s office, in partnership with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), has activated a county drought response steering committee. This action comes in response to a worsening dry spell that has left thousands of local households facing food and water shortages.
According to Kenya News Agency, the decision follows reports of total crop failure in several parts of the county during the last rainy season, raising concerns about food security and the wellbeing of both residents and livestock. Local administrators have identified the hardest hit areas as Ithanga, Kakuzi, Maragua Ridge, Kambiti, and parts of Kandara Sub County, where many homesteads now require relief food.
Residents in these regions primarily depend on rain-fed agriculture, and the prolonged dry conditions have destroyed crops, leaving families with little or no harvest. During the activation of the committee, which gathered various stakeholders, Murang’a East Deputy County Commissioner Charles Muriithi, representing County Commissioner Hassan Bule, stated that the steering committee is tasked with establishing the exact number of households in need of food and water assistance across the affected areas.
Muriithi mentioned that the committee will conduct a detailed assessment to determine the number of families and institutions, including schools, that require immediate support. The committee will also focus on mobilizing resources to facilitate the distribution of relief food, clean water, and other essential supplies to the affected families.
He called on all stakeholders, including national and county government departments, humanitarian organizations, community leaders, and the private sector, to collaborate in responding to the crisis. The drought has severely impacted the local livestock sector, with over 100,000 herds in urgent need of pasture and water.
County livestock officers warn that the continued shortage of grazing land and water poses a significant threat to animal health and livelihoods. County Assistant Director of Livestock Vincent Muohi, who addressed the meeting, revealed that about 60 percent of livestock in the region are at risk of contracting diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin disease due to stress caused by inadequate pasture and water.
Muohi added that the movement of animals in search of pasture and water increases the risk of disease outbreaks, calling for urgent vaccination of livestock to prevent further losses. The situation has been exacerbated by an influx of livestock from neighboring counties, as herders move into Murang’a in search of grazing land.
The Assistant Director warned that competition for limited resources could trigger conflicts between communities if not properly managed. He noted that conflicts over pasture and water are likely to rise if the dry spell persists, urging communities to exercise restraint and cooperate with government agencies while mitigation measures are put in place.
The steering committee is expected to roll out immediate interventions and develop longer-term strategies to cushion residents against future droughts, in the wake of climate change affecting rainfall patterns across the region.
