Panic As Desert Locusts Invade Farms In Muhoroni, Kisumu County

IN SUMMARY
Muhoroni Deputy county commissioner Erick Wanyonyi confirmed that the locusts were sighted at Kamarawa village, Wang’aya One Sub-location in Nyang’oma Location of Miwani Division.

Desert Locusts invasion in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County has caused panic among residents in the area who want quick intervention by the county and national governments to take appropriate action on the locusts to avert the destruction of their crops

Muhoroni Deputy county commissioner Erick Wanyonyi confirmed that the locusts were sighted at Kamarawa village, Wang’aya One Sub-location in Nyang’oma Location of Miwani Division.

Wanyonyi said he has already informed the Kisumu County Commissioner Susan Waweru and county government officials of the invasion.

Muhoroni being the county’s key food basket, it practises horticultural crops and livestock farming. It is also a cane growing area which hosts Chemelil, Muhoroni and Miwani sugar factories.

While speaking on Monday February 17 at Gakurune Primary School in Meru after visiting areas where locusts had invaded, Agriculture CS Peter Munya on Monday reassured the worried farming community not to worry about the locusts saying that the desert locusts in parts of the country are destined to die of old age and are no threat to food security in the Country.

“Don’t be worried. They are going to die,” said Munya.

He said that the ministry had deployed personnel with chemicals to spray the locusts, adding that the ministry has increased sprayer aircraft from eight to 20 to contain and manage the locust infestation

The CS also said county officers from 21 devolved units have been trained on surveillance, monitoring and mapping out locust breeding areas and how to fight the insects.