Kenya to Receive Funding from the US to Fight Locust Menace

Kenya is set to receive funding from the United States government to fight the current locust invasion that is ravaging the country, thereby threatening food security.

The US said it will provide $8 million (Sh800 million) to help Kenya and its neighbors; Somalia and Ethiopia, control the infestation that began late last year. This was announced on Tuesday by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a joint press briefing with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew.

“The United States is providing $8M in additional funding to support regional locust control operations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia,” said Pompeo.

Early this month, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nations body, warned that the desert locusts could invade more nations in Eastern Africa and threaten the livelihood of millions of people.

“There also other countries at risk, especially South Sudan, Uganda, Eritrea…,” FAO assistant director-general of agriculture and consumer protection department Bukar Tijani said.

So far, the swarms have destroyed tens of hundreds of hectares of farmland in Kenya, making it the worst locust menace witnessed in the country in 70 years.

17 Kenyan counties including Mandera, Wajir, Embu, Isiolo, Meru, Turkana, Machakos, Marsabit, Kitui, Garissa, Tharaka-Nithi, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, and Samburu have been affected by locusts.