The Ministry of Agriculture has received Sh30 million from the Treasury to accelerate the fight against locust invasion in Kenya.
The locust menace, now experienced in eight counties, continues to pose a food security challenge even as the state procures more aerial spraying apparatus.
Speaking it his first press conference since appointment as Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Peter Munya said the government is in control and the locust problem will soon end
“We are adding more resources to contain the problem in key areas of Marsabit, Isiolo and Mandera,” he said adding that the government has hired three more aircraft to be deployed as soon as possible.
There are no figures yet on the amount of destruction the locusts have occasioned in Kenya so far, but they have destroyed 175,000 acres of farmland in Somalia and Ethiopia according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Munya also reversed a decision made by his immediate predecessor, Festus Mwangi Kiunjuri, on tactics necessary in arresting the invasion menace.
“Please stop sending us photos of locusts anymore, we already have competent people on the ground who are using scientific methods to identify them,” he said.
