The National Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Chairperson Stephen Cheboi yesterday called on the National Government to work out sustainable measures to curb the effects of drought in the country.
Cheboi further appealed to leaders who are gathered in Egypt for a climate change summit to provide solutions to climate change.
“We are appealing to our national government to take action on this drought situation to relieve our people who are suffering from effects of drought,” pleaded Cheboi.
The Chairperson, while speaking to the press at his Nyayo House office in Nairobi said that there is need for sustainable measures so that no Kenyan shall die from hunger.
“Sustainable measures like completing assessment of climate change and increasing food production are aimed at assisting our communities so that next year, on a day like this, we can be appealing for other crisis if need be rather than food crisis,” stated Cheboi.
Cheboi stated that the council of NGOS has assisted to curb the situation as its executive members have distributed food to drought stricken areas such as Kajiado and Machakos.
He appreciated Kenyans who are already working towards ending the crisis and was confident that what they are doing will address climate change challenges in Kenya.
At the same time, the Council’s executive member Veroline Gado called upon the government to come up with water harvesting measures during this rainy season as a way of facilitating food production in the affected areas.
She asked the Council’s Chairperson to come up with a proposal on solutions to curb hunger through rain water harvesting and reusing of water and submit it to the Parliament for review.
Gado proposed that in order to work on the affected areas, they will engage counties through virtual meetings to get information on areas to work on.
She called on religious leaders to work alongside the government to address the prevailing drought as they have a wide reach and trust from the people.
On insecurity especially in Nairobi, another executive member of the Council Esther Muthoni Kamau pointed out that the government should set aside money to empower jobless youths and help street families find homes and sustain themselves.
She at the same time asked NGOs across the country to support the President to achieve his vision for the country.
By Emmanuel Kipkoech and Rita Muthoni
