Hundreds of hunger-stricken households in West Pokot County in Kenya are set to receive relief food from the government to cushion them from the biting effects of famine caused by ravaging drought in the region.
The relief food will be distributed to residents according to their vulnerability as part of the government’s effort to mitigate the effects of drought after President Uhuru Kenyatta declared it a national disaster.
The National Government at Kapenguria town, West Pokot Sub County Deputy County Commissioner, Kennedy Lunalo, said the region has received 300 bags of rice, 50kg each, 240 bags of beans, 50kg each, as part of government’s commitment to fight hunger and starvation across the country.
Government policy
“We have received relief food from the Government of Kenya and I have talked to the Director of agriculture so that he can furnish us with a list of the neediest areas, those that have been adversely affected and those whose crops do not do well. When we get the report, we will convene a meeting then we apportion this food strictly according to the vulnerability of the household,” Lunalo said.
According to the DCC, the National Government through the Ministry of Devolution, Planning and Special Programmes has put in place measures to mitigate the drought and that the relief food received in the county is part of the government policy to avert fatalities caused by hunger and starvation.
“The policy of the government is to assist the neediest. We have this practice where when relief food comes, everyone including those who are not needy line up to receive the donation, but for now we will only identify the people on the ground who are experiencing difficulties as beneficiaries of the relief food,” he explained.
He added that they would ensure the relief food reaches only the affected people across the county and condemned those who intend to steal or sell food meant vulnerable households. Lunalo further said that if all goes well, each hunger-stricken household should at least receive not less than 20kgs of food to last them almost one month.
