Declare locust invasion a national disaster, Uhuru urged
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been urged to declare the locust invasion a national disaster after the pest invaded farms in Mandera and Samburu counties.
Farmers in Mandera have raised concern after the pest, believed to have crossed over from Somalia, invaded Rhamu area.
County director of agriculture Diisow Noor said the local government lacked capacity to fight the locusts and appealed to the President to declare the invasion a national disaster.
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He said lack of enough personnel and equipment remained the biggest challenge in containing locusts which breed at a very high rate.
According to the farmers in the area who practise irrigation, the locusts invaded their onion farms on Saturday evening.
One of the affected farmers, Mohammed Noor, urged the national government to help curb the spread of the pests.
And in Samburu, Woman Rep Maison Leshomo (pictured) has urged the government to intensify mitigation measures on the invasion to tame the pest.
Speaking in Maralal town yesterday, Leshomo called on the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently intervene, saying currently the threat of the insects is being felt in Samburu East.
Leshomo appeal to Uhuru to declare locust invasion a national disaster saying it threatens the economic livelihood of Kenyans, particularly the pastoralist in Northern Kenya besides jeopardising food security. She urged residents to be calm as the government strives to do what it can to contain the situation. -KNA
