The Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) in partnership with the Ministry of East Africa Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-arid Areas (ASALs) and Regional Development Kenya have today handed flagged off relief food to various Counties across the country to ease the burden of starvation in hunger stricken families.
Speaking during the briefing at the Prison headquarters, Magereza house, the Ministry of East Africa Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-arid Areas (ASALs) and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rebeccah Miano advocated for continued joint efforts by multiple sectors to boost government efforts in order to mitigate the weight of thousands of vulnerable Kenyans.
“Kitui County is among the nine counties in alarm drought phase with Kitui south, Kitui East, Mwingi Central, Mwingi North sub counties being the most affected,” stated Miano.
She said the situation in Mutha ward, Kitui South is exacerbated by extensive crop failure, human-wildlife conflict and the after-effects of resource-based conflicts which have already ruined the current situation.
Further, she mentioned that the Ministry will add 150 bags of beans to the 400 bags of maize donated by the Kenya Prisons Service from their farms in high potential areas such as the Rift valley and Western Regions
“Meanwhile, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) is currently coordinating a multi-agency assessment exercise that will give a close picture of the impact of the just concluded rain season and food security crisis that will improve our capacity to undertake appropriate measures,” the CS revealed.
Miano pointed out that the government has put mechanisms in place to build resilience in communities affected by drought, more so, in the phase of climate change.
The CS assured the public that the government will continue to distribute relief foods alongside doing whatever it takes in this regard to safeguard vulnerable communities against drought impaction.
By Phinta Amondi and Juliet Njoki
