Kenya Grapples With Worst Locust Threat in 70 Years

A vast swarm of desert locusts descended on Embu County in Kenya on January 27, as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that the country, and its neighbors, faced the worst locust threat for 70 years.

Swarms of the locusts swept across East Africa during January, prompting the UN to seek $70 million to urgently support both pest control and livelihood protection operations in the three most affected countries: Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

This video shows the locust swam in Embu County, where personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture were dispatched after the insects wreaked havoc on farms. Aircraft were used to conduct spraying of the swarms. Local media said the government was determined to control the spread of the insects. Credit: Kirima Nturibi via Storyful