Over 100 households from Enga’boli Village in Kajiado Central now have a reason to smile, after receiving food donations from the International Mission Board (IMB) and other well-wishers.
The vulnerable households received food rations to cushion them from starvation occasioned by the prolonged drought.
According to Pastor James Kilomi of Enga’boli Baptist Church in Maili Tisa Kajiado Central, the hunger situation in the area was dire, as many families had lost all their livestock, their only source of income to the drought.
Kilomi said families were now left desperate and at the mercies of well-wishers to provide them with food.
Speaking after overseeing the distribution of relief food to local residents, Kilomi said women, children and the elderly were the most affected and called on more well-wishers to come to their rescue.
“The drought has resulted in loss of livestock thus pastoralists have lost their only source of income thus cannot provide food for themselves. We are calling upon all well-wishers to chip in and donate food to those in need,” said the Bishop.
He further called on the government to introduce a school-feeding program in all public schools, to ensure the pupils attend and remain in school.
Paul Anderson from the IMB, noted that the hunger situation was dire and children under the age of five were at risk of acute malnutrition.
Anderson added that many locals were feeding on one meal a day and appealed to the government and other organizations to chip in by sending food rations to the affected families.
Josephine Tipape, a resident, said water shortage was also a big problem in the area.
She revealed that they have to walk for 15 kilometers to the nearest water point to fetch water for domestic use.
She called on the County Government to sink boreholes in the area and introduce long lasting sustainable solutions to deal with the drought menace.
“There is a huge shortage of water, women are forced to walk over 15 kilometers on an empty stomach to fetch water. I want to appeal to the County Government to sink boreholes so as to solve this water shortage menace once and for all,” she said.
According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) an estimated 2.6 million livestock deaths have been reported in the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties.
Over 6 million people are facing food insecurity in 32 counties as the prolonged drought persists.
The 32 counties are; Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, Tana River, Samburu, Baringo, West Pokot, Laikipia, Embu (Mbeere), Meru (Meru North), Nyeri (Kieni), Kitui, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi (Tharaka), Kajiado, Narok, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu.
Others are Migori, Siaya, Homa Bay, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, and Machakos.
Source: Kenya News Agency