Drought
West Pokot County government and its development partners have been urged to collaborate with the National Drought Management Authority to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance community resilience.
Speaking during the drought stakeholders meeting held at one of the restaurants in Kapenguria town, the National drought management Authority Assistant Director Pascalia Kaquara said that collaboration of drought stakeholders is important in ensuring residents get essential assistance during periods of drought, in order to alleviate the impacts of climate change.
Mrs Kaquara said the collaboration between the West Pokot County government, development partners, and the National Drought Management Authority is crucial for providing essential assistance to residents during drought periods. She noted that they have collaborated with stakeholders on various measures such as implementing early warning systems, distributing food and water supplies, providing agricultural support, and offering livelihood diversification programmes.
She mentioned that NDMA have harnessed drought expertise in a workshop focused on ending drought emergencies in the region and more so in Arid and Semi-Arid lands areas of the region. ”Stakeholders came together in a meeting to validate a document aimed at enhancing investments in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) areas by the year 2032,” Mrs Kaquara said.
She observed that obtaining feedback from a range of stakeholders when validating the document for the Ending Drought Emergency Common Programming Framework II (EDE CPFII) enables a wide array of perspectives to be taken into account. ”Engaging stakeholders when validating a document ensures that the strategies proposed are thorough and aligned with the requirements and priorities of the communities in ASAL regions,” she said.
She noted that it is important to adopt a proactive approach in tackling the issues encountered by regions impacted by drought. “The main objective of the EDE CPFI document is to eradicate drought by the year 2032 mainly in ASAL areas,” Kaquara said. The EDE CPFII document plays a vital role as a roadmap for all parties involved in tackling drought emergencies.
”It serves as a well-organised framework that facilitates collaboration and coordination among different entities, guaranteeing a cohesive approach in supporting drought-affected residents,” she said.
She mentioned that a launch of the document will be held this year the month of August and after the document has been validated, she mentioned that they will raise awareness about the EDE document among everyone in the region. She referred to the ongoing drought conditions in the region, stating that it is a regular occurrence following periods of heavy rainfall.
Following the heavy rainfall in the region, she indicated that there would be plentiful food supply for both animals and farmers as a result of the favorable farming methods. “Therefore, if it continues to rain, we will have enough food and food security will no longer be a problem,” said Kaquara
In her part Teresa Cheptoo, World Vision Kenya official, emphasized the significant portion of the region that is classified as a dryland, resulting in numerous residents suffering from hunger. She further highlighted the adverse impact of climate change on children, as they are currently accustomed to missing meals on a daily basis, consequently hindering their access to education within the area.
” School going children walking for long distances in search of water for their livestock has poses a big challenge,” said Cheptoo. She stated that World Vision Kenya, in collaboration with the government and various organizations, has acknowledged the situation and is strategising on how to collectively combat the pandemic.
“We want to know how we will come together to discuss and bring solutions to ensure that children in this county go to school,” said Cheptoo. She mentioned that a strategy has been devised to empower women by focusing on their financial development rather than engaging in tasks related to livestock, water, and food procurement.
Cheptoo, added that projects have been established in drought-affected areas, involving cash transfers to assist families, drilling water boreholes to reduce the distance traveled to fetch water. Additionally, she stated that discussions have taken place with parents who keep their children out of school, emphasizing that education is crucial in combating drought.
Furthermore, she highlighted support for underprivileged families through school fee assistance and dormitory construction to promote universal access to education. David Chepelion, the Chief Officer of Disaster Management in West Pokot County, provided reassurance that robust measures have been put in place to address the issue of drought.
Chepelion noted that measures including the implementation of effective strategies such as borehole drilling, tree planting, distribution of drought-resistant seedlings, cultivation of livestock-friendly grass, and the provision of agricultural training programs to farmers have been initiated in the county to help combat the challenges posed by drought and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
He said the Department of Agriculture has recommended farmers to reduce their livestock count and engage in alternative projects that can be beneficial, particularly in times of drought. He further said the department of agriculture has allocated funds to provide assistance to individuals impacted by floods.
Philip Tingaa, the County Crops Development Officer, emphasised that the challenge of drought has been exacerbated over an extended period due to climate change. “Drought has become frequent almost one year now and 80% of our communities live in Asals areas where rain is very erratic, “said Tingaa
He said the National Drought Management Authority has spearheaded the program, involving actors from different government departments at both national and county levels. Tingaa assured the residents of West Pokot that the finalized document will pave the way for various departments and agencies to address food insecurity.
He urged sectors such as water, environment, climate change, the department of Interior, and other non-governmental departments to take a lead in the fight against the effects of climate change. Tingaa expressed his gratitude to stakeholders for their commitment to implement various strategies outlined in the document once it is finalized.
“We will be able to address the key issues especially those that affect food security and also the human security, “said Tingaa