This archive report was first published on 19 November 2021.
November 19, 2021, marked a critical moment for the people of West Pokot as Governor John Lonyangapuo flagged off 4,000 bags of livestock feeds donated by the Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in Kapenguria.
According to the governor, more than 180,000 people had been affected by hunger, with 1,200 households in North Pokot and Central Pokot sub-counties badly hit by food shortages.
"Ten wards are most affected by shortage of food as well as water for their livestock," said Governor Lonyangapuo, highlighting the severity of the situation.
He noted that over half of the county's population had run out of food stocks, with most people surviving on a single meal per day.
"Residents of Kacheliba are staring at starvation," Governor Lonyangapuo warned, while also encouraging residents to plant maize, despite the dire situation.
However, the county's National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) coordinator, Mike Kimithi, downplayed the situation, stating that it was still at a normal stage.
"We have programmes to cushion the vulnerable people like the aged and those living with HIV. There are also those people that are chronically food insecure," he said.
County Agriculture executive Geoffrey Lipale concurred, stating that 80 per cent of the area was affected by food shortage, with the most affected areas being Riwo, Kacheliba in Pokot North, and Masol, Turkwel area, and lower Sook in Central Pokot sub-counties.
