Wajir, Kenya, Feb. 01, 2006 (Standard) – At least four Kenyans are said to have starved to death at a Somali border town in the last two days.

The Kenyans are believed to be among over 30,000 pastoralists who crossed from Wajir to the war-torn Somalia in pursuit of water and pasture.

Speaking at a meeting between Wajir District security committee, International Aid organizations and Somali clan elders in Wajir town, a Somali elder, Abdirahman Said Aden, said six Somali herders also died.

The 20-man Somali delegation, which had come to appeal for humanitarian assistance to avert more deaths, said herdsmen from Kenyan had overstretched their limited water sources.

Area DC, Samuel Otieno, who chaired the impromptu meeting, directed security officers at the border to allow Somali registered vehicles to enter Wajir for water until the end of the dry spell.

Otieno promised them services at local health institutions to reciprocate their hospitality, but cautioned against smuggling firearms and other uncustomed goods.

Councilor Dakane Siyat said the drilling rigs provided to sink boreholes in 48 hours during President Kibaki’s visit in the province late last year had broken down.

Meanwhile, a humanitarian group has appealed for urgent medicine donations for the famine-stricken families in Eastern Province.

InterAfrica Community Development Services emergency coordinator, Bob Nasser, also appealed for food aid.

Elsewhere in Machakos, DC Osman Warfa said at least 100,000 people are facing starvation.

But Warfa told The Standard that adequate food had been distributed in the hard hit areas.

And the Mt Kenya Central Anglican Diocese has donated cereals, pumpkins, cabbages, bananas and clothes for hunger victims following an appeal by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.

Bishop Isaac Ng’ang’a said some of the donations would be handed over to the Murang’a DC.