Tana River,KENYA:TanaRiver legislators have vowed to defy a quarantine directive which was issued by the government following the outbreak of Rift Valley fever in the area amid hunger crisis .
In a media briefing at parliamentary buildings on Friday , the legislators Ali wario of Garsen constituency and TanaRiver senator Juma Wario accused the government for giving a directive without offering any alternative measure , following the food crisis hitting many residents in the area.
They said that it is incorrect for the government to issue such directive and yet residents of that county solely depend on milk and meat amid hunger crisis being felt in the aftermath of the recent floods.
“There have been cases of cholera and Rift Valley fever ,and yesterday we were told that the maekrket should be closed ,now if the market will be closed where will be Garsen residents go ,where will they go because there is no food .”Ali Wario said
“What are they going to eat “The mp quizzed
Ali Wario also said that they will petition Kengen in the National Assembly and courts on what they term as degradation of environment in the area by releasing water that has caused a couple of diseases among the residents in the area..
They said that the area has been adversely affected by the floods and the government hasn’t offered sufficient food stuffs and other mitigation factors including in education sector which has been impacted negatively by the floods.
The outbreak of Rift Valley Fever hit Tanariver which forced the government to slap it with quarantine whereby 20 goats are reportedly affected by the outbreak.
A directive was also given to all slaughterhouses to shut down with immediate effect, with residents being urged to desist from eating beef or drinking raw milk.
