116,000 people need relief food in Makueni County

At least 116,000 people are in need of relief food in Makueni County, the area County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Mohammed Maalim has disclosed.
Those in need of the relief assistance are found in Kikumbulyu, Masongaleni, Kitise, Nguu, Kako and Kilome in Kibwezi, Kathonzweni, Makindu, Makueni and Mukaa sub-counties respectively.
While assuring wananchi that nobody will die of hunger, Maalim revealed that they have made request for maize, beans and cooking oil for the months of April, May and June.
“We did an assessment in February and found the stressed areas that people were affected. Chiefs and Deputy County Commissioners are expected to do proper targeting to ensure that only needy cases benefit from the relief food once it is brought,” he said.
The county commissioner said this on Monday while addressing the media at Kitundu market in Mbooni West Sub-county.
Consequently, he said that 290 public schools are getting food under the school meals programme hence no learning institution will be affected by the prolonged drought.
Maalim pointed out that other development partners will come on board in a bid to supplement the government in provision of relief food to the affected people.
The administrator attributed the current drought to poor rains received and extreme heat experienced in the area that resulted to 60 per cent crop failure.
At the same time, Mr. Maalim said that the human/wildlife conflict especially in areas neighbouring Kyulu National Park impacted negatively on food security in the County.
By Patrick Nyakundi