At least 750 households in Homa Bay County are set to benefit from relief food donations worth Sh4.3 million from World Vision Kenya non-governmental organisation.
The vulnerable families were identified from Pala in West Karachuonyo of Rachuonyo Constituency, Mugunga in Suba South Constituency and Lambwe in Suba North constituency respectively.
Speaking to KNA on Wednesday at Pala in Karachuonyo Constituency during the distribution of the food donations, Homa Bay County World Vision Programme Manager William Adero said that they sourced the Sh4.3 million from the integrated fish farming and horticulture project which was coming to an end in the area.
The project manager said the project had cash balances, which were meant for evaluation and other close down activities.
“In the advent of Covid-19, as an organisation we decided to talk to our donors to get the indulgence and approval to use the money to respond to the needs of the community and the beneficiaries who are affected by Covid-19 in the region,” the Manager said
Adero further said that the distribution started on Tuesday and is set to end on Friday saying that they have so far distributed the food items to 150 households in Karachuonyo West.
“We have bought maize, salt, cooking oil and beans which are to be distributed to 300 households of Kibiri ward, 300 households in Magunga and 150 households from Lambwe,” Adero said.
Adero, who was accompanied by the West Karachuonyo Assistant County Commissioner Jackson Sindani and area Chief Michael Otieno Owino, further said they used the 2019 census report of four people per house to calculate the food basket per household.
On his part, Sindani said that the donations would go a long way in helping to bridge the gap that the government had identified.
“As the government, we are glad since the residents are now overwhelmed because of the huge donations,” he said
The Assistant County Commissioner further said that the donations are meant to last the families for the next two months until the harvesting season.
While on his part Otieno urged the beneficiaries to use the food prudently so that it can push them for a longer time.
Otieno said that beneficiaries were the families that were displaced by floods, disabled people and the old who are still dependent on by their families.
At the same time he cautioned the beneficiaries against selling the relief food saying that they will monitor them to make sure that does not take place.
Justine Amolo, a beneficiary, could not hide her joy saying that the donations will help change the diet since she has been really struggling to put food on the table.
“I am very happy! May God bless World vision,” Amolo said
Tom Olande, another beneficiary, said that the donations would really assist him and his family since the small jobs he used to do is no more because of COVID-19.
By Dan Oduor /Davis Langat
