Photo showing a group of African desert locusts that has invested North Horr. Photo: BHB Chalbi FM.
Residents of Malabot area in North Horr Ward Marsabit County have decried after being overwhelmed by desert locusts, lack of network and poor state of roads in the area.
Speaking with a local radio station, one resident identified as Baba Gumato, said that the desert locust are destroying the environment by feeding on the trees, grass, shrubs and the crops in the field.
According to him, the desert locust infestation has been caused by the recent short rains experience in the area, and later dry conditions, which formed a good condition for them to breed. Following the infestation Gumato said their livestock will miss on something to feed on.
“The locusts have become a menace in the area. They are feeding on anything available in the area. They are destroying our environment. The locusts appeared after the one month long rains, wanakula kitu na hata kumaliza chakula ya mifugo yetu, ” Gumato explained.
Gumato pleaded with the government to send help, before the situation becomes dire in the county, as it will result food shortage crisis and loss of livestock.
A similar situation was witnessed in 2019-2021, when severe desert invasion hit the country, worst infestation ever witnessed in 70 years, affecting Northern Regions of Kenya, and further posing threat to food security in the area.
Still burdened with the desert locust, the residents also outcried the state of poor roads in the area, posing a big challenge while accessing health care services in the area. According to Gumato, the situation is worse when it comes for a time when pregnant mothers during when they are about to give birth.
A similar cry was made by residents of Leyai Saku, whose roads have become impassible, and difficulty in accessing healthcare services, including being forced to travel long distances to Songa village or Marsabit Town to receive treatment.
The residents also called on network providers in the country including Safaricom and Airtel, to work on restoring communication networks to open up the area.
