Gov’t says Kenya free from desert Locusts since May

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 8 – The Ministry of Agriculture says Kenya has been free from desert locust invasion since the first week of May.

The ministry, in the latest food security monitoring report, says this was achieved through the deployment of sufficient equipment for locust mitigation and an adequate supply of pesticides for locusts spraying.

The Peter-Munya led ministry assured farmers of continuous support in mitigating the impact of the locust invasion and Diseases noting that it will also increase surveillance in previously infested areas.

“The Country is free from Desert Locust since the first week of May 2021,” the report noted.

In early 2020, Kenya and a number of countries in the horn of Africa including Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda experienced the invasion which posed a huge threat to food security in the region.

Counties that were majorly affected included Meru, Kitui, Machakos, Garissa, Baringo, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni, Laikipia,  Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Mandera, Kajiado, Wajir, Kericho, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Kakamega.

CS Munya had in May noted that the locusts’ invasion had been partially contained with remnants of the insects being dealt with in four counties – Samburu, Marsabit, Turkana, and Isiolo.

“Our efforts to eradicate them even in those counties are still on, we have our teams on the ground spraying and giving reports. We want to thank all our teams both in the county and national levels for their contribution in making these efforts successful,” Munya said.