Over 380,000 people facing starvation in Kajiado

By Obegi Malack

Kajiado County Drought Risk Coordination Committee co-chaired by Kajiado County Governor Joseph ole Lenku and County Commissioner Felix Watikila has announced that 380,000 people from the county are in dire need of relief food.

The number has shot up from 110,000 people last year.

Governor Lenku said the food crisis had reached an emergency level and called on the national government to fastrack issuance of relief food in drought-stricken areas.

"Drought continues to bite. There has been no reprieve because the rains have not come. We appeal for emergency food support as we continue putting in place long term measures," said the governor.

He added that the county government will hold a meeting with various NGOs to ensure all food support is channeled through one platform.

The contractor later installed the cable in the wee hours of the morning with residents only waking up to see trenches dug, some water leaks and pipes destroyed.

"We have a central store manned by both the county and national government. This is the food bank from where the coordination committee will determine where the food will be distributed,” he said.

Lenku added that the county government has operationalized the national drought emergency forum which will determine emergency projects.

He said the projects will go towards building resilience and capacity building for communities.

The county boss said donors and partners should involve the governor and county commissioner’s offices when donating food so that the committee can determine where the food support goes.

He said the committee uses the national and county government machinery to reach every vulnerable household in the county.