The National Government has begun disbursing more than 3 million bags to the four counties which have been highly affected by drought in the country.
Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the move was aimed at ensuring no Kenyans dies of hunger during this period of drought and famine in the country.
He said priority would be given to the counties which are worst affected including Tanariver, Garissa, Isiolo, Garissa, and Kajiado which are leading in the 23 counties that are faced with drought.
Wamalwa who was accompanied by his Chief Administrative Secretary Hussein Dado, Principal Secretary Mikah Pkopus Powon , Tanariver Senator Juma Wario and Tanariver Deputy Governor Salim Batuyu officially launched the programme in Bura, Wayu, Hola, Garsen town before proceeding to Waldena in Tanariver County,Wamalwa said the government had also received 90,000 bags of rice at the Port of Mombasa to add up with the over 3 million bags of maize at the grain reserve.
“No Kenyan will lose a life because of famine or drought, we shall continue supplying relief food to the affected areas until the drought ends,’’ he said.The Devolution CS asked Kenyans not to worry as the food would go to all deserving areas in the country.
However, he warned Deputy county commissioners, their assistants, chiefs, sub-chiefs and village elders against misappropriating the relief food meant for the deserving people.
He said anyone found to have directed relief food to ‘rich’ people shall be jailed.
“Whoever plans to divert the food to another area shall be jailed, Deputy County commissioners, and Chiefs we are entrusting you with the relief food, but it should reach the deserving people,’’ he said.
Wamalwa said his Ministry would work with all governors irrespective of their political affiliation to ensure President Uhuru Kenyatta achieve the big four agenda in the country including housing, affordable health care, food security, and industrialization.
“Politics is over, it’s time to work as devolution Cabinet secretary I assure all governors that I shall build bridges to strengthen the intergovernmental relations,’’ he said.
The CS also said coast region would soon be the food basket of the country with the ongoing 1 million acre project at galena Kulalu.
He said the government would also strive to ensure the completion of Bura and Hola irrigation schemes.
“Coast has the potential to produce food for the whole country it will be the pillar of food security,’’ he said.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society currently, more than 3.4 million Kenyans are at risk of starvation due to the drought in the country.