This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
East Africa is facing a severe locust invasion, with the United Nations warning of an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods in the region. The new wave of desert locusts is estimated to be 20 times worse than the one that occurred in February, with a swarm of about one square kilometre consuming the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the locusts are a result of climate change, exacerbated by the war in Yemen and global warming. The FAO has stated that a swarm of locusts can consume its body weight in food every day, making them voracious eaters.
The new invasion is made up of mostly adult locusts, who are forming in Somalia, Ethiopia, and northern and central Kenya. The first swarm, which occurred in February, was the worst that East Africa has seen for the past 70 years.
Climate change has made the climate conditions ripe for more breeding, with a particularly heavy rainy period in March in the Horn of Africa. The swarm of pestilence is not a result of environmental damage caused by Kenyans, but rather a result of overall climate change due to humanity's overconsumption and lack of commitment to using renewable resources and energy.
Unfortunately, low-income countries like Kenya are disproportionately affected by environmental damage caused by high-consuming, high-income countries. The spread of Covid-19 has made it even harder for Kenyan officials to fight the infestation, with trans-border pesticide deliveries slowed down and aerial spraying limited.
Despite the challenges, the government has been focusing on environmental conservation, with measures such as banning plastic carrier bags and standing up against pro-poaching. The Big Four Agenda, the government's development goals, include achieving food security for all Kenyans, which is crucial for a stable, middle-income economy.
As Kenya faces one of its most significant challenges of the 21st century, it is essential to put faith in the government and all measures enacted to fight Covid-19. This includes respecting curfew measures and staying at home to maintain physical distancing as much as possible.
