Kiambu constituency residents have today benefited with relief food following the ongoing drought being experienced across the Country.
Kiambu constituency MP Machua Waithaka in collaboration with the Kenya Commercial Bank distributed the food ration to more than 1, 000 families out of the 5, 000 in dire need of food relief.
Speaking during the exercise at the Kiambu township primary, Waithaka said unreliable rainfall has seen families receiving insufficient food especially the aged.
“As I was walking through different areas in my constituency, I realized that my people are suffering. I reached out to sponsors such as KCB who have come on board to support the agenda”, he said
He added that the food will however support only a few people for few days before a permanent solution is found but urged other players in the private sector to join in and assist those vulnerable families.
The National and County Governments, with the support of development partners, the private sector, non-state actors, and Kenyans of good will have been scaling up drought response interventions to cushion lives and livelihoods of those affected.
Waithaka noted that with the help of area chiefs, they have been able to mobilize the cases on a need basis so that the distribution of the food reached those most in need.
Kiambu Assistant chief, Peter Gachwe said they ensured that they registered the needy in the area through their identification cards.
Salome Wanjiku, one of the beneficiaries thanked the MP for reaching out to them in ensuring that he followed up on his promise to cater for his people’s needs.
Three weeks ago Kiambu vulnerable communities also received food items from the Kiambu Police department which had collaborated with churches to assist those affected by the drought situation.
Last month, the Government tasked private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response had distributed relief food to 124,300 households under the Wakenya Tulindane initiative that was targeting 2,860 households in the worst affected Sub -counties.
According to the latest statistics on the drought situation according the National Drought Management Authority, the situation remains critical in 22 of the 23 arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties following poor rains through October to December when the short rains season usually appear.
The period during which short rains is expected has already ended up posting poor rainfall right across most of the ASALs and this now marks the fifth consecutive failed rain season.
By Apondi Abila
