Rift valley Regional Commissioner Mongo Chimwanga has urged the media to stop amplifying and sending wrong information about the drought situation that has hit 12 counties in the country.
Addressing media after flagging off a consignment of 700 bags of relief food from National Cereals and Produce Board-Nakuru branch destined for Baringo County, Chimwanga said media has been amplifying the situation.
He added that the government is in control of the situation and they are engaging counties affected on how to receive the relief food.
While admitting that indeed there is drought in the 12 counties, the Commissioner said this has been occasioned by insufficient long rains.
“Indeed there is drought in the 12 counties occasioned by insufficient long rains. But the government has put in place mechanisms that the media is not reporting about. We have had food distributed but what we see in media is like nothing has been done at all” said Chimwanga.
According to the Commissioner, several mechanisms have been put in place by the National government in collaboration with the specific counties but media has failed to report on the same.
In Turkana County, the Chimwanga said that already 5,500 bags of maize and beans have been distributed while in Baringo over 7,000 bags will be distributed to deal with the situation.
He added that the government is also working closely with the affected counties on how the relief food can reach various wards regardless of poor infrastructure which has caused delays in delivery.
Already the government has approved the release of Sh2 billion which will be used for water tracking, food supply and ensuring that boreholes and water pans are functional.
National Drought Management Authority CEO James Oduor has denied reports of deaths as a result of starvation in Baringo and Turkana counties saying prior advisory had been issued to facilitate timely response by government agencies.
The Meteorological Department earlier Monday attributed the prevailing drought situation in arid and semi-arid land counties to a tropical cyclone that has reduced the accumulation the needed moisture precipitation.
The agency’s Acting Director, Stella Aura, however, said near-normal rainfall will be experienced in Western, Rift Valley, and Central parts of the country in the first week of April.