Leaders from Garissa County have called on the government and humanitarian organisations to extend more help to the county as the ongoing drought continues to bite.
They have appealed to the Kenya Red Cross and other aid agencies to urgently intervene and curb the situation.
County Livestock Council Marketing chairman Dubat Amey and Dertu MCA Abdi Ali said the situation needed speedy intervention.
Ali said food rations being distributed by the national government were insufficient for the residents, adding that it was only being distributed in urban areas leaving rural residents with severe food shortage.
"It is high time other aid agencied joined hands with the government and upscale the distribution of relief food especially in rural setups where the population has been badly affected," he said as quoted the Star.
He said parts of Lagdera and Dadaab were the most affected, with most rural people now relying on school feeding programmes where locals are allowed to share food with pupils and students.
Amey on his part said the government should liase with local chiefs to identify the most affected families and offer help.
The National Drought Management Authority in March said close 60 percent of Garissa residens need food aid.
The government recently warned chiefs against selling relief food.
[Garissa farmers a spot where a cow died as a result of drought. Leaders from the area now want the government to ensure equal distribution of relief food. photo:religionnesw.com]