Farmers in Thika East sub-county's Ngoliba area have called on the Kiambu County government and area MP Alice Ng’ang’a to consider supplying them with relief food as they are at a risk of starving after their crops have started wilting due to the insufficient rains.
Speaking to the press during a chief’s baraza, the area village elders said they are forced to go for a full day with only one meal and they are worried that their children are at a risk of suffering from imbalanced diet diseases.
Area chief Maina Gituku Igure said most of the children are missing school considering the county government's feeding programme has become dormant even after it kicked off with a boost to the children. The kids have now been forced to drop or miss classes due to lack of meals.
He said the crops have so far wilted and they are not expecting to harvest anything this time and the government should consider their situation and supply them with relief food which, according to him, will help reduce the dangers of hunger striking in the area.
The chief accused the area MCA of being unavailable during the difficult times, even after promising goodies during campaigns.
“These leaders are just hypocrites. They lie to us in their campaigns and now we are suffering alone and they are no where to be seen,” chief Gituku said.
Ngoliba, Gatuanyaga and Kalimoni are the most affected semi-arid areas of Kiambu County by the insufficient rains that fell this season and the residents are facing threats of drought and famine.