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US First Lady Jill Biden yesterday landed in drought-stricken Kajiado county and called for an immediate rescue mission for hungry children  and women.

 Dr Biden said the hunger situation in the country has reached dire levels and promised that the US will stand to be counted in working with the people of Kenya to ensure none dies of hunger.

 The US First Lady, accompanied by US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and several country directors of international humanitarian organisations came face to face with children suffering from malnutrition.

She also encountered  emaciated men and women who had lost livelihoods due to the prolonged drought.  “We have seen the situation on the ground. We acknowledge  the difficult situation households have found themselves in. We look forward to working with everybody to alleviate the situation,” said Biden.  She was given an update of  the drought situation by the USAid head of Emergency, George Ombis, who enumerated the various interventions taken by the organisation.

Dr Biden has been in the country on a three-day visit.

Pastoralist counties

Kajiado governor Joseph ole Lenku, who also briefed Biden on the situation in pastoralist counties called for action to protect  children who were suffering from malnutrition. “Education and transition to other levels have a correlation to food security in households.We need a special focus on food security as this also reduces the cost of primary health care among our people,” said Governor Lenku.

 Lenku, who was accompanied ASALs Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano also appealed for relief food support.  When she arrived, Dr Biden was taken through the medical and nutritional interventions by the USAID before she held a meeting under a tree with a cross section of Maasai women where they exchanged their experiences on nutrition, maternal health and empowerment of women and youth.