First Lady Margaret Kenyatta receives a cheque from some of the philanthropists. Photo: Twitter/@FirstLadyKenya
Local philanthropists Thursday donated over Sh20.7 million to mitigate effects of the prolonged drought, bringing the total amount of funds raised for famine relief to over 92 per cent of the target.
The money was donated by various corporate groups who presented their contributions to the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at State House where the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) announced that food relief operations will continue until October in 13 hard-hit counties.
By October, said KRCS Secretary General Dr. Abbas Gullet, it is expected the rains will have stabilized the food situation in the affected regions.
Dr. Gullet also gave a rundown of the society’s ongoing relief activities in the 13 most affected counties.
Of these red-alert regions, Marsabit and Turkana remains the most hard-hit Counties in terms of food shortage and malnutrition.
Besides Marsabit and Turkana, the other Counties where the KRCS continues its food relief activities include West Pokot, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Baringo, Tana River, Kilifi and Kwale.
Relief activities in these Counties include Cash Transfers, Food distribution, rehabilitation and sinking of new boreholes, and destocking.
Today’s financial support came from among others the Shinda Washinde Gaming Company who donated Sh 10 million, the Kenya Prisons Services Sh 3 million and over Sh 2 million from the Modern Coast Transport Company.
Other donations came from Beta Healthcare International who gave Sh 2 million and Sh 1 million each from the Central Bank of Kenya and the Q1 Mcheza whose team at the function was led by media personality Julie Gichuru.
The rest of the donations came from Carmelvale Catholic Primary School of Donholm and the Kenya Charity Sweepstakes who donated Sh 500,000 each.
Moto Gari, a Corporate Taxi and Car Hire service donated Sh 300,000 while Ukulima Sacco, a Credit and Savings Society brought another Sh 250,000.
The International School of Kenya and and SimbaNet companies gave Sh 100,000 each.
Two weeks ago, another group of philanthropists donated another Sh 29 million to assist the more than 3 million Kenyans affected by the drought.
During today’s function, United Nations Resident Coordinator Siddarth Chatterjee who has just returned from Turkana said Kenya has the potential to feed its own people.
He used a video-clip showing images from Turkana where a group of residents are growing their food in the middle of the deasert through drip irrigation.
“We need to create an ecosystem to make Kenya drought-proof and drought resistant”, he said adding the country is ripe for Green revolution and Social transformation.
The First Lady thanked the donors for their continued support to compatriots affected by the prolonged drought.