GARISSA—It has rained heavily in parts of northern Kenya, among them Garissa and Wajir towns and their environs in the last twelve hours.
In Garissa, the residents reported that the rains started pounding at 7 pm and lasted for half-an-hour. Similar trend was reported in Wajir.
The results of the Friday rains did not reflect on the website of the meteorological department by the time of publishing this story.
The rains came a day after the government indicated that the drought would continue for “longer period than anticipated.”
However, other areas that the government identifies as drought prone have not reported rainfall.
The drought has largely affected parts of lower Eastern region, the Coast and North Eastern counties.
The government has earmarked sh 5.4 billion to mitigate the effects of a drought that has struck certain parts of the Horn of Africa.
The government on Thursday announced that the drought was showing no signs of slowing down, the government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said, adding the situation seemed to be worsening.
“With the late start and expected early cessation of the short rains, all indications are that the drought will persist into 2017. In the affected areas, vegetation has greatly deteriorated and surface waters have all but run dry,” Kiraithe said.
“5.4 billion Kenya shillings [roughly $53 million] of additional financing have been approved by the national government towards drought-related expenditure,” he added.
The drought has so far claimed at least seven lives and thousands of livestock, Kiraithe said, pointing out that the distribution of relief food had begun in order to prevent any further loss of lives.
