Residents of the drought-stricken Garissa County have now resorted to eating leaves and roots as the disaster escalates.
With numerous pleas to the county and national governments, the locals lament that they are yet to receive relief food to save them from the crisis.
As this happens, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has disclosed that his government cannot do much to prevent the situation from worsening, saying disaster management is not a devolved function for the counties.
"Disaster management is not one of the devolved functions. All we can do to the people as a county is to compliment the national government’s efforts in ensuring that no lives or livestock are lost as a result of the worsening drought," Jama said.
He further pointed out that the current drought is the worst, and that the last time such a disaster was witnessed in the area was more than 200 years ago.
“The current drought facing Garissa County has not been seen for the past 200 years. And it is for this reason that we urge the national government to speedily respond and save the residents from further sufferings,” Jama added.