By Betty Luke
The government has announced plans to coordinate all donations from different stakeholders for drought mitigation to ensure they benefit the neediest and vulnerable Kenyans in the 10 affected counties.
This will also prevent duplication of aid and ensure many Kenyans benefit.
Devolution CAS Abdul Bahari, during Isiolo County Steering Group meeting, said the government was in the process of procuring more food and livestock feeds for more than 2 million Kenyans affected by the drought that has contributed to hunger and drying of water sources.
The meeting, which brought together several stakeholders, sought to examine the status of drought in the region and mitigation measures put in place by the county and national governments and Non-governmental organizations.
Mr Bahari said the government had already distributed livestock feeds and was in the process of distributing some more to the remaining counties.
“There is a need to coordinate all the support to improve the level of effectiveness and ensure that those benefiting are the most deserving,” he said.
Isiolo Deputy Governor Dr Abdi Issa said more than 100, 000 residents in the county were in dire need of food aid and hailed the government for the interventions.
Dr Issa said there was an urgent need to ensure residents in far-flung areas including those from the dry Modogashe area get a permanent solution to the water crisis that forces families to walk for many kilometres in search of the crucial commodity.
“Residents in remote areas such as Modogashe have been facing water shortage for a long time and we appeal to the government to provide a lasting solution,” he told The Press Point.
He lamented the lack of proper measures to harvest rainwater saying if they were in place, the locals would be having enough water for domestic use and livestock during the dry seasons for resilience against drought.
“We urge the government to help the counties harvest storm water so it can be used whenever drought hits,” said Dr Issa.
In attendance was County Secretary Dr Ahmed Galgalo and County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding who announced the reactivation of sub-county committees to ensure no residents die from hunger.
