Marsabit governor appeals for emergency aid as drought worsens

Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali and Cabinet secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho during a funds drive in aid of construction of Dakabaricha Islamic Centre/ABDIKADIR CHARI

Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali has appealed for emergency support as the drought situation in the county continues to worsen.

His appeal comes as the National Drought Management Authority reported that more than 150,000 families in the county need assistance.

"The drought situation in the county calls for urgent collaboration with the National Government. I appealed for enhanced support, including relief food, water intervention and other emergencies measures to protect both livelihoods and human lives," said Mohamud.

He said the situation has reached an alarming level and asked the National Government to supply relief food to drought-stricken residents of the county.

Women, children, and the elderly are the most affected as the dry spell attributed to poor short rains persists.

The governor spoke on Saturday during a fund drive in aid of the construction of Dakabaricha Islamic Centre.

Pastoralists called on the government and well-wishers to scale up intervention as the decline in livestock prices and increase in food prices continue to undermine the purchasing power of households, exacerbating food insecurity.

The county boss also appealed to the NGOs in the county to give focus to drought intervention activities and help the starving residents.

Mohamud urged leaders to unite for the common good of the residents as he reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring peace in the county.

"I called for unity among the leaders and the importance of sustaining peaceful coexistence among the people of Marsabit County for meaningful development to be achieved," he said

The governor underscored the significance of unity and cooperation in realising the development objectives for the county and warned against any actions that could foster division, highlighting the necessity of unity for prosperity.

He emphasised that unity is essential for achieving development, and leaders must focus on issues that contribute to the welfare of the residents.

"I encourage leaders to steer clear of divisive politics that do not serve the interest of the people," he stated

The county boss said Marsabit County is rich in mineral resources that would benefit its residents calls for cooperation with the National Government.

"We have come to the realisation that this is the land where the residents continue to live in poverty despite the presence of valuable minerals."

"I welcome the Cabinet Secretary's commitment to work with us to ensure our national resources are responsibly harnessed for the common good," he added

Governor Ali expresses deep concern over the alarming rise in abduction, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killing and underscores a critical need for the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to protect citizens, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that justice is served.

"I called upon the relevant security agencies to conduct thorough, transparent and conclusive investigation so that justice may be served. "

He was in reference to the killing of a young businessman in Moyale whose decomposed body was found three days later after being taken away by unknown people.

The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho, who was the chief guest during the fund drive, urged parents to enroll their daughters in school in order to save them from retrogressive cultural practices.

"The funds drive underscored our shared commitment to empower girl child through education, which remaining one of the most powerful tools for transforming communities and secure a better future," he said

He said collective responsibility will create an enabling environment where every girl is supported to thrive and realize her full potential. 

The cabinet secretary expressed the need to enhance collaboration between the county government, local leaders, and his ministry to boost opportunity for growth and development.

"We are committed to work together to make mining a more lucrative and sustainable venture for the residents," he said

Saku MP Dido Ali Raso urged parents to prioritise education of their children in a bid to nurture a future generation that's empowered to bring a positive impact to the society.

He lauded the organizers of the drive to build an Islamic centre, noted that such investment will see to it that they lay a strong foundation for the society to prosper.

The Saku legislator called for the provision of equal opportunities to all the children to help them maximise on their God-given potential and turn their dreams into reality.

"Our children require the necessary support to overcome future hurdles in life. We are obliged to give them the right avenue to explore and provide lasting solutions to societal problems," he said

The leaders who spoke during the event drummed up support for the administration of President William Ruto and rallied residents to vote for him in the next general election.