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Garissa farmers plead for compensation against floods

Aerial footage of floods in Garissa County on Sunday, November 26, 2023. (Photo: Kenya Red Cross)

By Abdimalik Hajir | 06 May 2024

Farmers appealed to the government for immediate support for household sustainability, support to rehabilitate farms, and replanting.

Farmers in Garissa County have decried being abandoned by the government and development partners despite floods wreaking havoc on their farms.

Addressing journalists in the county on Monday, the farmers, led by Garissa Farmer's Network and Kenya National Farmers Federations, said that although efforts have been directed at families displaced by floods, over 9,000 households that solely depended on farms have been left out of compensation plans.

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"The farmers along the river are in a state of despair. They have lost everything as the farms have been washed. The destruction is very devastating and we demand immediate intervention, both long-term and short-term," said Mzee Dubat Ali Amey, the Chairman of the Kenya National Farmers Federations.

Mzee Dubat added that the government should support farmers with seeds, funds, food, and pumps as a short-term plan to relieve farmers, adding that a long-term intervention should focus on stopping flooding permanently.

He also took a swipe at visits made by political elites whom he accused of making roadside promises and declarations rather than embarking on fact-finding missions to assess losses incurred.

Abdirahin Farah, the chairman of Garissa Farmer's Network, alleged that government levels and development actors have not developed a matrix that will marshal support for farmers.

"The floods have universally affected farmers along the Tana River on either side. Unfortunately, no effort has been focused on supporting farmers," he told journalists, flunked by other farmers.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua distributing food to families affected by floods in Garissa County on

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua distributes food to families affected by floods in Garissa County on May 2, 2024 (Photo: DP Gachagua)

He added that currently, there are 369 registered farms on the eastern side of the river and a similar number on the other side. 50 of the farms are private, while 319 are owned in groups.

During the visit by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other cabinet secretaries to assess the flood situation in Garissa, the former said that the government would compensate farmers through KenGen, an electricity-producing company.

However, farmers demanded that the compensation plan should adopt a formula based on losses individual farms incurred rather than a general assessment.

"There are over 9000 households in Garissa alone who solely relied on farms and are currently at home with nothing to do after farms have been destroyed. They are in dire need of support," Abdirahin Farah, the chairman of Garissa Farmer's Network, emphasised.

He appealed to the government for immediate support for household sustainability, support to rehabilitate farms, and replanting.

Abdirahin further requested that cash transfers, accorded to Internally Displaced Peoples, should also be extended to farmers, who he said have been grossly affected.