Locusts attack 9 counties in new wave

The second wave of desert locusts have invaded nine counties so far as the insects continue to fly in the country from Somalia and Ethiopia.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga said the insects crossed to Kenya on November 9 and have so far affected Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Kitui and Marsabit.

Prof Boga said a team has already been dispatched to tackle the locusts that a mature and seeking places to lay eggs.

“The country was invaded by a second wave of desert locust from Somalia and Ethiopia on November 9. These desert locusts came in when they were mature and yellow, just looking for good soils to lay eggs,” said Prof Boga.

Central Somalia was heavily infested and high cases of insecurity in that region made it difficult to control the desert locust, hence being blown by wind to Kenya.

The government has now set up bases in Lamu, Garissa and plans another in Taita Taveta to suppress the invasion.

The ministry said as part of the preparedness measures to contain the second wave of invasion, trainings and sensitisations are ongoing in the frontline counties.

Prof Boga said that this time round the locusts have come earlier than the first wave which was sighted on December 28.

“It is easier for us when they breed because one can control them when they are on the ground,” the PS said adding that they expect to be done in the next six weeks.

Hardest hit

In August, preliminary research showed the locusts had been contained with only two counties of Turkana and Samburu that were still affected

This was from a high of 28 counties that saw the invasive pest destroy pasture across the country.

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation, Kenya was the hardest hit with the locust invasion as compared with her East African counterparts.