4.5M Kenyans facing starvation

The government has dispatched relief supplies to 23 counties that have been affected by drought.

President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off the consignment on Monday at State House, Nairobi.

The relief food is expected to benefit 2.3 million Kenyans in the affected counties.

“This flagging ceremony of a caravan of hope is part of the many interventions that my administration has undertaken since the 8th of September 2021 when I declared the ongoing drought a national disaster and immediately put in place measures to cushion the affected populations,” President Kenyatta said.

President Kenyatta Declares Drought A National Disaster

In September last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought affecting parts of the country a national disaster and directed the National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to spearhead Government efforts to assist affected households including water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.

According to Kenyatta, the Government, had has since the declaration released Sh2 billion to assist the affected households through relief food distribution, water trucking and a livestock offtake programme.

“From October 2021 to date, a total of 11,250 cattle and 3,200 sheep and goats have been bought by the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) from the counties most affected by drought,” the Head of state said.

Emergency Relief Cash Transfer

The Government also in December 2021 launched an Emergency Relief Cash Transfer which has reportedly disbursed over Sh600 million through MPesa to over 225,000 vulnerable households.

“Further, in January 2022 a total of Sh508 million was disbursed to 169,000 households, translating to a population of 846,885 reached by the cash transfer,” the President said.

Water Pans

The government has also through the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) constructed water pans and boreholes in Marsabit, Laikipia and Baringo counties.

“The boreholes are complete with the associated works for domestic and livestock use. We are now expanding the programme to cover the Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Tana River, Meru, parts of Machakos and Kitui counties,” he said.