by STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Correspondent, North Eastern
Saturday October 22, 2022
Garissa county commissioner Boaz Cherutich speaking at Garissa primary school play grounds during Mashujaa day celebrations.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Truck drivers contracted by the government to distribute
water to people affected by drought in Garissa county have been warned against
diverting of selling the precious commodity.
Garissa is among the 23 counties that have been hard hit by
the drought.
County commissioner Boaz Cherutich said that the government
is closely monitoring the water distribution exercise and those found selling
the water will be dealt with accordingly.
"It has come to our attention that some drivers who
have been tasked with distributing water to drought victims across the county
have been either diverting or demanding some money from the very victims,"
he said.
He was speaking at Garissa Primary School play grounds on
Mashujaa Day.
"The water is not for sale because the government is
paying for the allowances of the driver and fueling the trucks. This is free
water to drought victims and anyone found demanding for money or diverting the
same will be dealt with accordingly. Let us be our brother's keepers. It is a
moral obligation," Cherutich said.
He reiterated that the government was committed to ensuring
that no Kenyan dies of hunger and at the same time ensuring livestock that have
also been hit by drought are supplied with animal feeds.
On the brewing tension between herders from Garissa who have
crossed over to Kitui county in search of pasture and water, Cherutich said
that he will be engaging his Kitui counterpart and the security teams to come
up with an amicable solution.
He at the same time urged pastoralists in the area to
refrain from any acts that may result in insecurity.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama promised to reach out to his
counterparts in Kitui and Isiolo through the Council of Governors to find a
solution to the ongoing border conflict over pasture and water.
The ongoing drought has forced herders from Garissa to
migrate to neighbouring counties of Wajir, Tana River, Kitui, Isiolo and Meru
while others are crossing to Somalia.
The Garissa–Isiolo border conflict has been the longest
because the residents of both counties are nomads who have been trying to keep
their livestock alive with the little pasture available.
In Kitui, at least five deaths have been reported in Mutha
area, Kitui south as a result of border conflicts.
Speaking on Thursday during Mashujaa day celebrations, Jama
urged the neighbouring communities to find a way of coexisting with the herders
who have been largely affected by drought.
"As the ASAL chairman I will talk to my neighbours from
Isiolo and Ukambani so that we find a solution to the conflicts. Drought is a
shared problem and we request them to accommodate our people and
livestock," Jama said.
The governor reiterated his commitment towards drought
mitigation measures in addition to the efforts by the national government and
other partners.