The government has assured citizens that no one will die of drought which is currently ravaging parts of the country.
Defense Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa, while launching relief food distribution exercise in Tiaty, Baringo said the President who had declared hunger a national disaster assigned them the task to ensure no one dies of hunger in the country.
The CS said that Tiaty has been affected greatly with the ongoing drought prompting the government to commission food programmes and distribution in the area due to their dire need of food to avoid starving.
“Tiaty is greatly affected by food shortage. As we commission this food programme here, we will distribute food not only in Tiaty but in the entire county,” Wamalwa said.
The CS revealed that teams from the Department of Special Programmes were currently in parts of the country which have been affected by drought, adding that Principal Secretary Micah Powon would be heading a team in Baringo, Turkana and Samburu in making sure that food has been distributed.
The immediate former Devolution Secretary said that the programme which has just started would run until December this year and that the food was in plenty.
“The President who sent me here said that he does not want any citizen to die because of hunger which he just declared to be a national disaster,” Wamalwa added.
He distributed beans and rice to the locals assuring them that by the end of the coming week, they would be able to get maize which would be shared to curb the issue of food shortage till food stability is achieved.
On the issue of water, the CS said that his first assignment in Defense docket would be making sure that the military who now assists in water distribution, would help the community by drilling boreholes in the area.
He alluded that he would spearhead in making sure that Baringo is among the counties selected to benefit from livestock feeds’ programme so that the welfare of livestock in the region is catered for.
He further noted that climate change has affected lakes in Rift Valley and this should be mitigated by planting trees.
Baringo County Women Representative, Gladwell Cheruiyot, said that Tiaty is the affected area in terms of drought which has caused high levels of malnutrition among children.
Area Member of Parliament, William Kamket, said that his constituency has no food and that it was noble for the President to consider them by chipping in and providing food.
The MP said that with presence of relief food, the region has a transportation problem, wishing that food would reach the intended persons.
The event, held at Chemiril, was also attended by Wajir South Member of Parliament Mohammed Omar, Baringo County Commissioner, Henry Wafula with some Members of County Assembly from the region, but had no representative from county government.
By Jebichii Chepkwony and Christopher Kiprop
