Kisumu: The national government has dispatched an assortment of relief supplies to hunger-stricken residents in Makueni County, who are faced with acute food shortages due to failed rains.
According to Kenya News Agency, the consignment, which includes 3,000 bags of maize and 2,600 bags of beans, each weighing 50 kilograms, was disbursed to ten of the worst affected sub-counties. These include Makueni, Mbooni East, Mbooni West, Kilungu, and Mukaa. Each sub-county received 300 bags of maize and 260 bags of beans as part of the government’s efforts to prevent any fatalities due to starvation.
The sub-counties of Nzaui, Kathozweni, Makindu, Kibwezi, and Kambua were also included in the relief efforts. Most crops planted from early September withered due to delayed rains, exacerbating the food shortage.
Makueni County Commissioner, Mr. Khalif Abdullai, highlighted the failure of the anticipated October, November, and December rains and the poor distribution of rainfall across the county. This has resulted in massive crop failures, contributing to the current food crisis.
Speaking at Kikima Comprehensive School after reading the President’s speech during Jamhuri Day celebrations, Abdullai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue providing food to those in need. He confirmed that a team of officials from various government departments, including Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Education, Health, and the National Drought Management Authority, is assessing the situation in the different sub-counties to map the affected people.
Abdullai further revealed that a meeting is scheduled later in the week to involve various multinational organizations, such as the World Food Programme, to develop a joint response roadmap to the looming crisis.
Makueni County Governor, Mutula Kilonzo Jr., stated that the county has mobilized different departments under the County Steering Group (CSG) to review the current drought assessment. This will allow the County Assembly to be recalled to allocate funds for purchasing food for those suffering from hunger.
“We cannot build hospitals and roads while our people are perishing of hunger,” said Mutula during his speech at Kikima Comprehensive School in Mbooni West Sub-county. “We will pause our development projects to buy enough food for our people, including this Sh 42 million set aside for land at Wote town,” he added.
Those present at the event included Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, County Executive Committee Member for Devolution Nicolas Nzioka, his counterpart for Gender Eng. Sabastian Kyoni, Mbooni Sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Stanlause Apwoka, local residents, and other government officials.
