President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the Government will scale down funds for some of its development projects as part of its measures to enhance relief efforts to mitigate drought in arid and semi-arid counties.
Speaking on Wednesday in Kitui when he flagged off a convoy of water boozers and trucks loaded with relief food and hay for livestock, Uhuru said no meaningful development could be realised if citizens were dying from hunger.
The President also said that the Government will distribute relief food to schools in arid and semi-arid counties to cushion them from drought.
He said his administration has taken the urgent measure so as to ensure learning is not affected by the drought situation.
President Kenyatta called on school management boards and school heads in the affected areas not to send away students who have not paid school fees as the Government will ensure food stocks are not depleted.
“As national Government we are taking this issue to Parliament requesting them to realign the budget and allocate funds to purchase food for Kenyans affected by drought,” said the President.
He, at the same time, challenged Opposition leaders to sell their policies rather than issue threats to Kenyans.
He said any challenge facing the country could only be addressed in a peaceful environment where citizens are given an opportunity to exercise their democratic right by choosing their preferred leaders but not by intimidation.
“Kenyans are more informed and will not be intimidated into electing people who are not focused on improving the country,” said President Kenyatta.
By PSCU.