Livestock carcass in Wajir. Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim said drought affecting hundreds of pastoral communities. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]Wajir East Member of Parliament Rashid Kassim has said that elections is the least concern for pastoral communities in North Eastern following the persistent dry spell in the region.
Mr Kassim said the drought being experienced in parts of the arid and semi-arid counties has adversely affected many families who most are herders.
The MP said most of the residents in the region are desperate and elections is the last thing in their minds.
He said lack of pasture and water is endangering the livelihoods of the community who are predominantly pastoralists.
“Our people trek a lot of kilometers to water their animals, a lot of the livestock died, some sold their animals for sustenance and others crossed to other counties which means elections is not a luxury we can afford,” said the MP.
Mr Kassim who distributed tones of relief food to cushion his constituents against the biting droughts provided water Bowsers to truck water to pastoralists at their preferred and convenient points.
Mr Kassim urged the national government to take the drought issue seriously adding that the government needs to come up with intervention measures to assist the affected families.
“Despite the power squabbles at the National government my office will work relentlessly to ease these trying times of drought season,” he added.