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At least 3,000 needy households in Isiolo’s Bulapesa, Chari and Sericho wards that have been hard hit by the ongoing prolonged drought are set to benefit from relief food courtesy of the office of the county woman representative Mumina Bonaya.

Speaking at the Isiolo County Commissioners’ office compound when she flagged off two trucks ferrying foodstuffs to the targeted areas, Mumina thanked President William Ruto for heeding her call for help and donating the extra relief food for distribution to the most affected families.

The foodstuffs which comprise of rice and beans will be distributed to households that have been identified through a thorough household assessment exercise conducted by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).

Isiolo county NDMA Coordinator Omar Abdi noted that weather forecasts by the meteorological department had indicated that the region would receive below normal or normal rains during the current rainy season, a further indicator that humanitarian assistance in the form of relief food will be required for the next few months.

Receive rainfall

“According to a survey by the NDMA, at least Sh200 million is required to effectively address the drought response activities for the next three months, with the figure rising to Sh1.7 billion if the response activities need to be extended to the month of November in case the current rainy season is not sufficient,” said Abdi.

Some parts of Isiolo such as Sericho, Modogashe and Merti are yet to receive any rainfall but locals remain hopeful that the much anticipated rains will eventually arrive.

Isiolo Parents’ Association Chairperson Ismail Galma lauded the government for providing food to schools noting that the gesture will increase enrolment of pupils in schools as well as retaining learners who would otherwise have dropped out of school.