The report showing that poverty levels in the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties have deepened and call for tough questions mainly on the leadership of these devolved units. Kenyans, starting with the locals of those counties should demand answers from their leaders on how the hundreds of billions ploughed to these counties in the last decade have been used.
The report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that Turkana sustained its top position as the country’s poorest county with a poverty rate of 82.7 percent, followed by Mandera and Samburu at 72.9 percent and 71.9 percent respectively. Others in the list included Garissa (67.8 percent), Tana River (66.7 percent), Marsabit (66.1 percent) as well as Wajir at 64.7 percent.
The unwanted tag of being home to the highest levels of poverty in the country raises questions on how the devolved units have been spending billions of shillings from both the National Treasury and donors. Failure to reduce the high poverty levels in those counties should also call the donor community to ask questions on how effective or not their resources have been deployed. Like other leaders, those tasked with leadership in these counties must come
out and give a breakdown of the monies entrusted to them. Those unable to account should be sanctioned.
It is sickening to see Kenyans from these counties wallowing in lack of basic needs that every human being deserves. It is more agonizing given that just like any other Kenyans, citizens in the ASAL areas pay taxes but get little or no value for it.
The next report on the poverty levels that KNBS will issue should have notable changes, key being a reduction in poetry levels especially in these areas.
But for the changes to happen, the leaders must do the right thing and prudently use resources meant for these counties in order to uplift the living conditions of the people.
