Days after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri spoke about desert locusts, the insects have now been sighted in Kirinyaga County.
A suspected swarm of the locusts was seen in Riandira, Mutithi ward on Sunday evening, Standard reports.
CS Kiunjuri had last week informed members of the public to share pictures of the suspected locust on social media for confirmation.
According to Isaack Ndung’u, a farmer in the area in question, he has called for the government's assistance before the locusts destroy their crops.
“They were nestling on trees and fence devouring the leaves. Even as the government confirms if that is desert locust or not, they should be sprayed immediately before they turn on our crops,” Ndung’u said, as quoted by Standard.
The deadly desert insects had been reported in various counties including, Garissa, Isiolo, parts of Meru and many others.
Kirinyaga County Assembly Majority Leader Kamau Murango confirmed the insects in Kirinyanga were locusts.
“Slow response by the government may lead to invasion of farms and the destruction of crops. This would be a double loss to farmers who are already grappling with poor returns from coffee, tea, and milk,” he said