The prolonged dry spell and the biting hunger has led to closure of over 10 schools in Tiaty sub county in Baringo.
The devastating drought has also affected the reopening of 19 Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) as children kept of the institutions at the beginning of first term.
With the drying of the nearby seasonal rivers, some of the schools affected include Natan, Toplen, Riongo, Naudo, Akwichatis, Chesakam, Lonyangapuo, Nakoko, Napukut, Nalekat, Chepkalacha and Lotita.
The residents have now been forced to dig burrow-like wells on dry river beds to quench their thirst while most of the parents have started moving with their children in search of pasture and water.
Lotita Primary school head teacher Sheila Chesang however raised concerns that the prolonged drought is also posing a serious security threat with locals flexing muscles over the few surviving water points.
In Chesakam village in Tiaty’s constituency, residents have camped to the shores of dry river beds where men dig boreholes and women boiling wild fruits for 12 hours to remove the poisonous substance.
The wild fruit known as Sarich is the only source of food for the community who have to entirely depend on it for survival.
Many residents have migrated with their livestock to the hills of Silale, Arabal and as far as Laikipia county looking for pasture and water for their livestock.
The drought situation further worsens the tense relationship between communities living in Baringo and its border with other counties.
The fight for the little remaining resources has brought conflict among the locals, Pokots from Tiaty constituency have moved in to Baringo south in look for pasture and this has led to conflict.
Further in the border of Baringo and Turkana three people were killed last week including a chief in Lomelo near Kapedo as tension remains high in the area.
This comes as hundreds of livestock are succumbing to the situation, in Barwesa ward farmers are counting losses as they lose livestock every day and others emaciate.
River Kerio has which has never dried is now dry and has left residents to spend their entire time moving with livestock to Rimoi game reserve where they risk being attacked by elephants.
Residents are now calling on the government and humanitarian agencies to intervene to avert more losses.
The most affected areas in the county are the entire Tiaty sub county, Barwesa in Baringo North, Baringo south and some parts of Mogotio.
