Kenya commences aerial spraying to contain locusts damaging farmlands

The Government of Kenya has begun the aerial spraying of chemicals to deal with locusts, which it now sees as a threat to food security in the country.

The invasion of locusts has destroyed around 70,000ha (175,000 acres) of farmland in the neighbouring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.

According to a statement by the Kenyan Government, swarms of desert locusts began entering the region around 28 December. It has since found locusts in three counties, Wajir, Marsabit and Mandera.

The government began operations to deal with the swarms of locusts on 4 January.

Kenyan Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna said the government has purchased a nearly 3,000l of a special chemical, which will be sprayed over the swarms of desert locusts using an aircraft.

Representatives of the Kenyan agriculture and interior ministries will visit the three affected counties.

Oguna also said that government authorised personnel will use handheld sprayers to disperse the chemical on the ground. They will also help the aerial team identify the locations of the insects in the fields.

Ground Locust Support teams will monitor and create awareness to local communities about the situation.

Oguna added: “Security personnel have been beefed up to areas that may have experienced few incidences of insecurity, like in Lamu where that was an attack on public transport vehicles three days ago.”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the latest locust invasion is the worst in seven decades and is threatening food supplies in several countries.