Even with escalating media reports and gory photos of hunger stricken Kenyans in Northern part, Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed media reports that hinted death of at least 11 people as 'fake news'.
On Tuesday, reports the Nation, at least two more people died at Tiaty Sub County in Baringo with other reports indicating more deaths at the neighboring Turkana and West Pokot Counties.
Speaking during relief food distribution in Nginyang', Tiaty, Baringo County, on Tuesday, Silale Ward Representative Nelson Lotela claimed to have the names of more than 17 people who have died of hunger in the area.
"We wonder why the government is disputing reports that people have died of hunger in Baringo … We have all the records," he said.
“I can take the provincial administration to the homesteads of all the people who have succumbed to hunger. Why are they disputing our reports yet we are right? They have even gone to the extent of intimidating us and the local chiefs for giving the reports to the media,” Mr Lotela said.
But at Mombasa on Wednesday, DP Ruto accused media of allegedly publishing sensational stories over the predicaments, adding that the government has been unable to record any deaths so far.
Further, Dr Ruto said, the government had summoned chiefs who reportedly broke the news to the media to explain the matter. He however conceded that the country has struggled to put in place long term measures to avert such crisis.
"Nobody has died from the drought. From where I sit, there is nothing like that. Ignore the fake news by the media. We have summoned the chiefs who came up with the story," Dr Ruto said.
"I agree that we need to put together long term measures on how to improve our agricultural productivity and food security. This is the area we have to improve."