Kajiado; 20,000 starving families receive relief food
The county government of Kajiado has released an assortment of relief food worth KSh. 75 million to 20,000 households, to be distributed across five sub-counties.
This is about a third of the 110,000 starving families identified by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) as more families continue to slide into hunger after signs of the expected rains continue to diminish.
According to a distribution schedule, families will receive food package including six kilograms of rice, four kilograms of maize flour, four kilograms of beans, and two litres of cooking oil.
Although the relief was dispatched to all the wards, the need analysis shows Matapato North and South, Lenkisim, Magadi, Loodokilani, Keekonyokie, Kuku, Imbirikani, Ewuaso Inkidong wards as most affected.
The food, purchased by the County Government’s emergency fund, is also scheduled to benefit low cost estates in the urban and peri-urban areas.
Most affected wards being Nonkopir and Kyang’ombe in Oloosirkon Sholinke and Kitengela Wards, Kware in Nkaimurunya Ward, Gichagi and Mathare slums in Ngong Ward, and Majengo in Ildamat ward.
While flagging off the consignment, Governor Ole Lenku lamented the situation in the rural areas was dire with communities battling their own hunger and that of their animals.
He assured residents of fair distribution of the food to only identified families warning his officers against abetting corruption in the distribution of the food.
He further said the county will be distributing livestock pellets from today in partnership with development partners.
A fortnight ago, Lenku convened a meeting of 15 humanitarian organizations and elected leaders to forge a common approach to raising food donations and livestock feed for herders.
Among the organisations that have come in handy are Food and Agriculture Organization, Unicef, Big Life Foundation and the National Drought Management Authority( NDMA)
Spot checks in various primary schools last week in Kajiado Central, East, and West indicated many pupils were unable to do their end-of-term examinations as many had been enlisted by their parents to look for pasture for their dying livestock.