Over 100 residents from Oloolua Ward in Kajiado North Constituency have received relief food supplies in a government sponsored relief programme aimed at cushioning vulnerable Kenyans from the effects of drought in the worst affected counties.
The distribution of relief food in Kajiado County commenced after the President declared drought a National Disaster in 29 counties classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).
According to Oloolua Senior Chief Moses Mpesha, the relief food programme would benefit vulnerable members of the community by providing them with food supplies to mitigate the effects of drought with each family receiving 10 kilograms of rice.
“We are distributing the government relief food to residents in Oloolua Ward with the help of the Red Cross who will be assisting in distribution of food to the vulnerable families. Those who will receive food today are required to register using their national identification cards,” said Mpesha.
Parricia Kimani who is a beneficiary of the government sponsored relief food programme has lauded the initiative citing its positive impact to vulnerable members of the community by cushioning them from the effects of drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is hard to get work nowadays since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. This relief programme is important in providing food to the poor like myself because there are so many responsibilities like school fees and rent and the money is insufficient to cater for all the needs,” Kimani noted.
Failure of the short rains in October to December last year and the long rains in March to May this year has occasioned food insecurity in Kajiado County with the drought further resulting into scarcity of water for animals and residents.
The government has set aside over 1.2 billion shillings for provision of relief food to over 2.1 million Kenyans estimated to be affected by the ravaging famine in the country.
By Amy Moyi
