The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has presented a donation of food items worth Sh1.5 million to hunger stricken families in Kinango Sub-County in Kwale. The food donations were presented to the most vulnerable families in one of the hardest-hit areas of Ndavaya and Lutsngani of Kinango. The donation was presented by the KPA Board Chairman Benjamin Tayari to 1000 most vulnerable families in the area. Tayari noted that the situation in most parts of Kwale still remains fragile due to poor rainfall and revealed that KPA will ensure that drought victims who are most urgently in need of food are assisted. The KPA Chairman regretted the severe drought situation in the country which has resulted in widespread livelihood losses and massive displacement of populations. ‘In Kwale County the drought situation has continued to worsen by the day making several areas such as Kinango suffer the consequences,’ said Tayari, adding that he regrets the alarming rate of poverty in the region. Tayari says they are working closely with the national and county governments to help respond to the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the current prolonged drought. He assured the local communities of KPA’s commitment to continue addressing their urgent food needs through the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Chairman was accompanied by KPA staff led by Corporate Communications Manager Bernard Osero who is also the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Committee Chairman. Tayari said similar food distribution exercises were being done in Tana River and Taita Taveta counties and disclosed that KPA will continue to support populations in need of assistance. ‘These efforts were out of KPA’s belief in good neighbourliness and responsible corporate citizenship with stakeholders and the community at large,’ said the KPA Chairman. ‘We hope this will cushion the impact of the population affected by the drought in coastal regions,’ he said. Tayari says next month KPA will hold free medical camps in drought affected parts of the coastal region. Addressing the meeting, Kinango Assistant County Commissioner Abdullahi Galgalo, thanked KPA for the support noting the area has a population of 38,000 people, majority of them facing hunger. Ndavaya electoral ward MCA Ali Beja equally thanked KPA and appealed for further support including sinking boreholes in the region to enable residents’ access water particularly during drought. Beja says residents have been living under deplorable conditions, feeding on wild fruits as hunger worsens in their localities. ‘We are very grateful for the support extended by KPA as a response to the current drought,’ said Beja. According to the Kwale County Drought Response Coordination Committee at least 200,000 people spread in Kinango, Shimba Hills, Samburu and Lunga Lunga sub counties are in urgent need of relief food and water supplies.
Source: Kenya News Agency