The government has distributed relief food to vulnerable households hit by drought in Kipkomo sub-county in West Pokot County.
The food items distributed included 300 bags of beans and 260 bags of rice.
The area Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Ms Teresia Muguro commissioned the distribution of relief food in Kipkomo location area chief’s offices and was accompanied by other government officers including security officers, Nyumba Kumi, village elders, and local administrators.
“I instructed all the chiefs and their assistance to be fair in the distribution of the relief food and make sure that the most vulnerable including orphans, people with disabilities, widows and the elderly all benefit,” the DCC said while warning officials in charge of relief distribution against selling it.
“I want also to warn those who have an intention of acquiring and selling this relief food that we will find them and we will take stern actions against them because this food is free and not for sale,” Ms Mugoro reiterated.
Ms Mugoro also commended the government for drought mitigation measures against hunger, noting that relief food support, despite being scarce, is better than nothing.
Clementina Chemobei, a beneficiary of relief food, thanked the government for remembering them during these hard times of drought when many families especially in the region have been adversely affected by drought with the most affected person being the elderly and little children.
Chemobei explained that the Sub County had been greatly affected by drought and they were now under the mercies of the government to rescue them from dying of hunger.
“I want to greatly thank the government for providing us with this relief food. We are now happy because this food will boost us for the next few days as we wait for the rains. I want to encourage the government to continue providing us with this food because we have some area residents who have large families and from the look of things, this food will not be enough,” said Chemobei.
Another resident Isaiah Matui, pointed out that the number of affected families is higher than the amount of food dispatched and pleaded with the government for more donations.
Kipkomo DCC said that other sub counties including West Pokot, North Pokot, Central Pokot and Pokot South have each received 300 bags of beans and 260 bags of rice for distribution to residents in an effort to mitigate the effects of drought in the region.
By Anthony Melly and Ian Langat
