More than 3.4 million Kenyans are at risk of starvation following the prolonged drought that has hit the country, Kenya Red Cross Society Authorities has said.
The areas affected include Kilifi County, Kajiado, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Turkana and Baringo.
Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Deputy Secretary general Ag. Deputy Secretary general Ayaz Minji said Kajiado and Baringo require urgent intervention as they are worst affected .
Speaking during a tour of Ganze and Bamba water project done by the KRCS in partnership with Kilifi County Government at a cost of Sh. 125 Million as part of the drought mitigation measures he said they have already begun intervention to ensure that the situation is dealt with before reaching out of hand.
Already the Kenya red Cross has begun mitigation measures to ensure residents in drought stricken areas access water.
The KRCS Deputy Secretary General said parts of the measures already undertaken include the Cash transfer program, water for livestock, veterinary services and recovery efforts.
“The drought is not new its just continuing to evolve, the short rains were poor ,’’ he said.
He said the situation of drought could lead to an emergency that’s why the government had appealed for 3.8 Billion for intervention .
In Ganze he said the Kenya Red Cross spent Sh. 75 Million while the county government of Kilifi spent Sh. 50 Million to set up the project which is almost complete and serving 88,000 residents.
Once complete Minji said the Ganze Bamba Water project will be able to serve 106000 people.
“The Infrastructure inhabited by Kilifi Mariakani Warer and Sewerege company is dilapidated under devolution its time to change the bad systems ,’’ he said.
Kenya Red Cross Society Coast Regional Cordinator Hassan Musa said 241,000 people have been affected by the drought in three counties .
Musa said Kilifi County is highly affected with 129,000 followed by Taita Taveta that has 77,000 people and Tanariver with 35,000 people.
“The famine is caused by shortage of rain residents could not produce enough food, in Magarini they were affected by insects,’’ he said
He said they imitated the water project in Ganze which was the worst hit by drought last year and they expect to hand over the project to the county government soon.
Musa said they initiated the cash transfer program benefited over 6000 people while in Tanariver 3000 people benefitted.
Kenya Red Cross society he said initiated irrigation projects in Baricho Magarini sub county, and Kinango in kwale Currently in Magarini there were only four water pans out of 25 water pans as the others dried up due to drought.
Hezekiah Mwarua the Managing director of KIMAWASCO said the new water project would help in supplying water to areas that previously had challenges in accessing water.
Previously he said the water project used to pump 30,000 liters but now they are able to pump 180,000.Residents interviewed in Bamba said the project had really helped them as they previously used to drink dirty water from Pans.
Eunice Machora a resident however said billing system had problem as she was slapped with Sh. 18,000 bill despite the fact that there has been no water for several months until after Christmas.