KENYA: Hungry Baringo County residents live on wild fruits

BARINGO, Kenya

More than half of Baringo residents are hungry and in dire need of relief food, Governor Stanley Kiptis has said.

Kiptis said on Tuesday the situation has worsened since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

Emaciated 90-year old Turkana granny Mary Naukot prepares wild vegetables at Kampi Turnana in Marigat, Baringo South sub county

Many people eat wild fruits known as edung, erut, cactus seeds and pods of the invasive mathenge tree.

The county’s population is more than 666,700, according to the 2019 National Census.

“Most activities were interrupted, forcing the majority of starving people to stay home,” Kiptis said.

He spoke while flagging off 250 plastic water tanks holding 5,000 litres each in Kabarnet town.

The governor said hunger has been worsened by flooding and bandit attacks that have displaced thousands of residents in Baringo North, Tiaty and Baringo South sub counties.

Kiptis appealed for more relief food and supplies from the national government and well-wishers.

“Hunger is real here in Baringo and the majority of my people are going hungry,” he said.

His administration has purchased and distributed 7,000 bags of maize and 2,000 bags of beans for more than 3,000 starving families.

“This is a drop in the sea. The entire county’s population is over 600,000 people and we cannot feed everybody due to limited resources,” the governor said.

Vulnerable families cannot feed themselves and their children, especially while schools are closed and there are no free lunches.

“I call on people who still have some food in their stores to share and feed their hungry neighbours,” he said.

Kiptis reminded residents to adhere to Covid-19 protocols, wear masks, maintain social distance, wash their hands and sanitise.

More than 70 per cent of the area is arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) and due to persistent drought and cannot support agriculture.

More than 200,000 people are hungry, a spot check by the Star and a team from World Vision Kenya indicated.

They incude more than 800 Tugen families attacked and displaced by Pokot bandits in Kagir, Yatya, Ngaratuko, Kosile, Chemoe and Barketiew in Baringo North.  

They are currently IDPs living in the bushes of Sibilo, Chepkowel, Rondinin, Chapin, Chebarsiat, Rormoch and Koiboware.

More than 100,000 people have been displaced by bandit attacks in Tiaty, Baringo North and Baringo South subcounties.

More than 20,000 acutely hungry people are Turkana IDPs living in makeshift structures in Marigat, Kampi ya Saki, Mochongoi, Sogeri, Eldama-Ravine and Mogotio.

“We are left in the wilderness of death and not one leader leader has visited us to listen to our problems,” Monica Kipkechem said.

She rears 15 children in a rickety structure in Chepkowel village on the porous border of Baringo North and Tiaty sub counties.

The IDP camps also shelters children, pregnant women and elderly people.

“We are totally forgotten. We are only surviving by the grace of God,” elder Paulo Lowoi told the Star at Kampi Turkana village near Marigat town, Baringo South subcounty.

They are among thousands of families who fled their homes due to bandit attacks in volatile Kapedo, Napeitom, Lokori, Lomelo and Nadome on the border of Baringo and Turkana counties.

“We were left to survive on our own. Poverty and joblessness are killing us silently,” he said. – The Star