The Government has embarked on distribution of famine relief supplies to hunger stricken families in Kitui County where at least 1700 families are faced with starvation due to prolonged drought in the region.
Kitui County Commissioner Mbogai Roba who flagged off the shipment of relief supplies at Kyuso market in Mwingi North said the foodstuff were critical in saving lives in the affected areas after rains failed in successive planting seasons.
The county commissioner confirmed that already the county has received the food aid consignment which included 9000 bags of 50kilograms bags of rice, 700 bags of beans in 50kg packages and 3600 bags of sorghum.
He said at least 10,000 people from the targeted households will benefit from the emergency relief supplies while other vulnerable families under the cash for food programme will separately enjoy their monthly package.
“Currently we have some vulnerable households in the county who have been receiving Sh. 3,000 under the cash for food monthly programme but this food aid is meant to target more households who are in need for food due to prolonged drought,” said Roba.
However, the county commissioner decried over the challenges the government was facing to transfer the 3,000 monthly cash for food to the beneficiaries through mobile money transfer.
Stating that the challenges are been addressed to ensure that the cash is transferred and received to the right beneficiary.
The county commissioner directed chiefs to ensure the food aid is immediately distributed to the right beneficiaries.
The emergency relief supplies are part of the food aid consignment flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday this week to be distributed to 23 arid and semi-arid counties affected by drought in the country.
The relied intervention is set to benefit 2.3 million Kenyans in the affected counties.
By Denson Mututo
