By Hilton Mwabili
Learning in several schools in Taita Taveta County has been disrupted after herds of elephants started invading villages in the evenings and mornings in search of food and water in the wake of the ongoing drought.
Wundanyi Sub County Director of Education Justus Jilo said most of the schools in areas of Paranga, Kishushe and Nyache have since suspended their morning and evening programmes to avoid exposing learners and teachers to the risk of encountering the jumbos.
“Most schools, especially senior classes begin their learning programmes between 6.30am and 6.45am and ends at around 5.00pm. But this is no longer possible because this is the time elephants stray to villages to feed. During the day when the sun is scorching they prefer resting under shades,” explained Jilo in an interview.
Kenya Red Cross Society has warned that the number of people affected by famine and in dire need of food aid in parts of the Coast region could grow exponentially if the ongoing drought situation continues.
The situation according to authorities has further been compounded by multiple conflicts as farmers, pastoralists and wildlife scramble for diminishing food and water sources.
The Society’s Coast Regional Manager Hassan Musa said a total of 678,728 residents in the region are currently starving.
According to Musa, Kwale County is leading with the most number of people affected at 198,349 followed by Taita Taveta at 150,000, Kilifi at 145,379, Tana River at 105,000 and Lamu with 80,000 affected persons.
“Acute water shortage coupled with extensive crop failure has resulted in severe malnutrition especially for children below the age of five years. As I speak, I am in Taveta where wild animals have invaded farms,” the Manager said.
At the same time, close to 3,000 livestock mostly in Kwale County are on the verge of death according to Musa who also said the situation is currently growing from bad to worse.
Taita Taveta County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara said the government in partnership with other agencies began relief food distribution in Wundanyi Sub County to cushion residents.
“Over 400 bags of rice and 200 of beans have been distributed. 11 affected schools have been factored in the programme to ensure that learners remain in school,” said Kibaara.
The Sub County MP Danson Mwashako said drought and hunger has ravaged communities in the area to a devastating effect, the most affected being school going children.
“I am grateful that a number of my friends including corporates supported my call for food donation. Among them is Kenya Ports Authority which provided food worth Ksh 300,000. Together with other partners we donated food worth Ksh 2.8M to primary schools and selected secondary schools in my Constituency,” Mwashako said.
