Water and Sanitation CS Simon Chelughi warns drought to go all the way to April

Government issues warning of nationwide drought

Mark Mwithaga

January 21, 2019 9:44 AM

CS Chelughi warns of prolonged drought

Water and Sanitation CS Simon Chelughi during a media briefing

Water and Sanitation CS Simon Chelughi on Monday issued a drought warning that is set to affect the entire country.

Chelughi stated that the expected dry spell would go all the way to April and cautioned Kenyans to use water properly.

Water and Sanitation CS Simon Chelughi during a past meeting Pulse Live Kenya

The water CS further explained that the government had plans in place to deal with the natural phenomenon as reported by a local daily.

“Considering that drought and floods are natural phenomena, we are already putting in place measures, in liason with other government agencies and stakeholders to mitigate its effects,” remarked Chelughi.

Speaking during the water and sanitation county executive committee caucus conference in Nyahururu, Laikipia County last week, the CS noted that the national and water coverage stood at 60 percent while sanitation was at 35 percent.

Increase in number of counties facing drought

This comes after the National Drought Management Authority on Friday pointed out that thousands of Kenyans were facing starvation.

The body revealed that at least 23 counties were facing drought weeks after the end of the short rains.

An area in Kenya hit by drought Pulse Live Kenya

Further analysis had showed that the condition of food security had been deteriorating since November last year, when a drought alert was issued to only three counties.

The counties experiencing the conditions were, Kitui, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu and Tana River.

Mark Mwithaga