This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
On January 11, 2020, the Saturday Standard reported that an ignored international early warning system, fear of Al Shabaab attack, and late intervention compounded the locust invasion in Isiolo, Meru, and Samburu counties.
According to sources, Ethiopia and Djibouti informed Nairobi in June 2019 to take early preparation to counter the locust invasion through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), but this crucial warning was ignored by relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development's Plant Protection Unit (PPU).
The Addis-Ababa based Food and Agriculture's (FAO) Desert Locust Control Organisation (DLCO) had warned that border counties of Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, and Garissa should be on red alert for the invasion.
As the locusts spread, residents of Mandera and Wajir resorted to unorthodox ways to fight the armies of insects, including shouting, blowing whistles, and hooting of vehicles, in a bid to scare away the pests.
Divine intervention was also sought through special prayers and long recitation of the Quran, while the police who provide security to guard against attack by Al Shabaab militia, were spotted firing shots in the air to scare away the locusts.
It wasn't until January 7, 2020, that spraying of the locusts by a helicopter started in Wajir, more than 10 days after the pests were reported.
According to Agriculture and Livestock Development Chief Officer Noor Mohammed, the delay in intervention had allowed the spread of the locusts to neighbouring counties.
Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Mukhtar said the administration was working with various inter-governmental and DLCO to contain the menace.
Northern Kenya leaders decried the late intervention, adding the government ought to have declared the invasion a national disaster.
