The Catholic community in Nyeri has launched a famine relief response fund through which they hope to support Kenyans facing starvation occasioned by the ongoing drought.

Speaking when he launched the second phase of the initiative dubbed “Hope 4 You”, Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria said they were running the initiative for two months with a target to raise donations worth Sh20 million to support vulnerable families in Nyeri, Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu, Marsabit and Kitui counties.

“We hope to run this programme for two months that before the impact of the ongoing rains are felt, the vulnerable families are expected to harvest some food even if it will not be the usual grains. We are also targeting the young children, the old  and schools that are not under the feeding programme by offering nutritive support to children who risk developing stunted growth due to lack of essential diets,” said Muheria.

An estimated four million Kenyans are on the brink of starvation owing to prolonged drought. Currently, the county government of Nyeri estimates more than 130,000 people, including schoolchildren are in need of humanitarian assistance with Kieni constituency being the most affected part of the county.

Terming the drought situation a disaster, Muheria attributed the climate crisis to many years of unchecked human activities but said it was time to assist those in need as the government tries to provide long-term solutions to the perennial crisis.

“Our country has been hit very hard. This is the biggest drought in the last 30 years. Some people have not harvested for over six seasons which means people in the dry and semi-arid areas are facing the danger of death, and so we urge all Kenyans to come out and do something by contributing in channels that have been set up in National and regional levels,” said the archbishop.

“Hope 4 You” initiative was first launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic where more than 20,000 families that had lost livelihoods due to the pandemic received food assistance.

Archdiocese

An Mpesa Paybill number (Account Number: 4023131) and a bank account (Cooperative Bank: 01128991686700) have already been set up where members of the public can channel their support during this second season. While launching the initiative, Arch Muheria said that the church will take care of the logistical cost of ensuring that the food donated gets to the vulnerable groups.

“The Archdiocese will be able to cover all the running costs and the logistics. We want you to take care of that flour or maize that will go to the needy family,” said Muheria.

Meanwhile, about 1,500 households in drought-stricken parts of Kinango sub county of Kwale have received food supplies from the county government.

To combat the region’s hunger, the county government of Kwale has scaled up the distribution of relief food to support the drought-stricken population.

The drought victims at Miyani area of Kasemeni ward received 300 bales of maize flour and 150 food packs during a distribution exercise supervised by area Governor Fatuma Achani.

Accompanied by her Deputy Chirema Kombo Achani says the county government will continue distributing relief food to hunger-stricken families until the drought situation subsides.

Governor Achani who chairs the County Drought Response Coordination Committee says 200,000 people spread in Kinango, Samburu, Shimba Hills, Matuga and Lunga Lunga sub counties are in dire need of food as a result of the ravaging drought.

The governor says the affected households are in need of humanitarian assistance due to food insecurity but added that so far no one has died because of hunger.

She also said that water pans and other water reservoirs have dried up and crops and livestock have died stripping residents of their livelihoods.