Drought leaves Kenyans in need of food aid

A drought has left some 3.3 million people needing food in Kenya

July 24, 2000
Web posted at: 1:01 a.m. EDT (0501 GMT)

From Catherine Bond
CNN Correspondent

LAIKIPIA, Kenya (CNN) -- A three-year-old East African drought that has already withered crops in Ethiopia has spread to neighboring Kenya.

According to the World Food Program, 10 million people in Ethiopia are struggling to survive because of the drought. In Kenya, more than 3.3 million people, including more than a million school children, need food relief.

"The initial target areas were four districts in northern Kenya," said Paul Benson, of the World Food Program. "Since March, we have now expanded to 19 districts."

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In one district, about 11,000 people -- half the population -- are on the list for food aid.

The U.N.'s food transport agency, which recently delivered 20,000 metric tons of corn to Kenya's affected areas, says the international response has been slow and inadequate.

Drought kills half of Masai livestock

Kenya herdsmen say the present drought is much worse than one they remember from 16 years ago.

Masai herdsmen Ledukura Lourokek told CNN his homestead has become a death trap for his family.

Almost 20,000 tons of corn was brought to this parched area of Kenya

"The vegetable garden we used to depend on has gone," he said. "Even the goats -- only 30 are left."

It's estimated that more than half of the livestock belonging to Masai families have died.

According to one survey, some Masai households no longer have any animals, which had provided food and livelihood.

"Almost 500 people don't have anything. You just see them sitting in their homers," said David Koiyei, a food monitor.

There are, to be sure, some pasture areas suitable for grazing and crops, but white ranchers have fenced them off.

The government has opened grazing areas for the Masai herdsmen in nearby Mt. Kenya. But the mountain is one of Africa's highest and has proved problematic for the grazing animals. Sheep and goats are doing well, but cattle are dying from the cold, herdsmen said.

"Many have died," said Masiaka Sobu. "I've had to come down (from the mountain) to graze on this pasture."

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