United Nations has declared the current locust invasion in various counties in Kenya among the very worst for almost 70 years down the line.
Despite efforts by the Kenyan government to curb the menace, it is feared that the situation could last until June.
Food security is now at stake if the government won't act speedily to contain the disastrous invasion in history. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently warned that swarms of locusts were still flowing into the country from neighbouring nations.
The Kenyan government has reiterated its commitment to control the locusts and said that already five aircrafts have been given out to help in aerial spraying, while four others were tasked with aerial surveillance.
Speculations were also high that the swarms could migrate to Uganda, South Sudan and South West Ethiopia with the countries urged to put in place measures to contain the invasions and avoid famine widespread.
"We must act immediately and at scale to combat and contain this invasion. As the rains start in March, there will be a new wave of locust breeding. Now is therefore the best time to control the swarms and safeguard people's livelihoods and food security and avert further worsening of the food crisis," urged David Phiri, FAO East African Sub-regional Coordinator.
FAO has also stepped in, handling the invasion as an emergency. Unusual heavy rains are attributed to the outbreak of the locusts.
"2019 brought us unusual cyclonic activity. Eight cyclones, the highest number in a single year since 1976 formed over the Northern Indian Ocean," said Guleid Artan, IGAD Director for Climate Predictions and Application Centre.