Over 9,200 drought-stricken people in Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County, have benefitted from relief food supplies from the government.
The ongoing programme is targeting the vulnerable families and it is aimed at curbing the effects of prolonged drought that led to reduced food production in the country.
A food security assessment carried out by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in Kirinyaga revealed that about 25,000 households in Mwea East and Mwea West, which translates to around 125,000 people, were facing starvation.
The relief food distribution drive targeting 1,841 households in Murinduko, Wamumu and Mutithi Wards was presided over by Kirinyaga County Deputy Governor David Githanda, Mwea Member of Parliament Mary Maingi and Mwea West Deputy County Commissioner, Jack Kanga.
Each household received maize, porridge flour, green grams, rice, cooking oil and salt.
The deputy governor pointed out that the county government would source for more food to cater for the households that were not covered in the initial phase.
“We have started with the most vulnerable groups who include the elderly and the sick, but the program will continue to include more people,” he said.
He also appealed to the beneficiaries to utilize the ongoing rains and plant various crops as a way of combating food insecurity, noting that subsidized fertilizer has already been delivered in the county to enable farmers to grow food to replenish their granaries.
The NDMA Coordinator Lordman Lekalkuli who was present at the food distribution exercise said that though NDMA main focus has been on the arid and semi-arid areas, the persistent drought in counties which are normally perceived as food secure has made them widen the scope.
Peninah Njeri, a resident of Murinduko Ward and a beneficiary of the food hamper expressed her gratitude for the relief.
She said that consecutive failed rain seasons in the area have made life very difficult for the residents since they depended on their farms for food.
Cyrus Njeru, another beneficiary, thanked the government for the intervention admitting that there has been severe drought in the area due to failed rains.
“This food will go a long way in alleviating our suffering even as we look forward to a better season,” said Njeru.
By Mutai Kipngetich
