Fast track relief food distribution, State told

The government was yesterday asked to fast-track the distribution of relief food in various parts of the country facing hunger as the current drought situation is at its worst especially in the arid and semi-arid lands(ASALs) due to lack of adequate rainfall.

MPs from Meru and North Eastern region warned that the situation was getting out of hand as they have recorded a number of deaths in their regions while the condition in both primary and secondary schools is bad as learners have been forced to skip lessons due to lack of food

While addressing separate press conferences, the leaders regretted that the relief food currently being donated by the government is inadequate and has not reached the most affected persons while the subsidised fertiliser is only accessible to a cartel of individuals who buy it at Sh3,500 only to sell the same to farmers at Sh4,500.

Eight legislators from Meru county led by their chairperson and Tigania West MP Kanyuithia Mutunga regretted that for the first time in Meru county, people are dying of hunger due to lack of food.

“This issue of drought is serious and we are telling the government that the relief food they are donating should not delay too much. With regards to fertiliser we need better coordination as the distribution is not being done in a very good manner thus ending up in the wrong hands,” he added.

Tigania East MP Mpuri Aburi regretted that Meru county is facing starvation due to lack of adequate rainfall for the last two years. “Meru community has for two years gone without rain. In the miraa regions, this crop has dried up, in Karama and Muthara sub counties people are dying and now the situation is bad,” he said.

Igembe north MP Julias Taitumu said that while Meru is classified as yellow this is not the case as the situation is bad and   thus ought to be classified as red in order to attract more intervention.

“The government has categorised counties in terms of farming and Meru is classified as yellow. But when we critically look at the situation Meru should be categorised as Red as it is so ravaged to the extent that two weeks ago people in some areas ate a dead camel and we ended up losing lives,” he said.

Drought emergency

Women leaders from the pastoral communities also told the government to increase food distribution to the counties hardest hit by the drought and famine.

Speaking separately, the women drawn from Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit counties told the government to act differently in addressing the matters of drought and insecurity that have been ignored even though they always required urgent attention.

Led by Marsabit County Woman Representative Naomi Waqo, the leaders appealed to the government, donors, development partners and other non-state actors to work together to ensure the people do not die due to lack of food or water.

“We want to see that drought emergency, cattle rustling, and bandit ecosystem end in this country. We do not want to see pictures of people, livestock and wildlife dying because there is no water in the 21st Century. We must fix our priorities,” said the Women leaders.

Already 10 counties—Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Wajir, Laikipia, Tana River and Marsabit—have passed the alarm stage in the month of September this year.

Waqo who was accompanied by MPs Sarah Korere (Laikipia North), Ruweida Mohamed (Lamu East), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Mandera Woman Rep UmmulKheir Kassim, her Garissa counterpart Amina Udgoon, Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, nominated Senator Hezena Lematian, Nominated Senator Betty Montet, Isiolo Woman rep  Mumina Gollo, nominated MP Sulekha Hulbale, Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko and East African Legislative Assembly representative Umulkheir Harun claimed that at least 4.1 million people largely pastoralist in Northern Kenya are facing starvation and very serious food and water shortages.