Hundreds of Coastal residents facing starvation

Was Devolution meant to bring suffering?

This is the question many are asking after famine sticked some parts of the country.

It is ironical how , the poorest counties in Kenya have the richest governors . The governor’s mansion is built in the middle of where people are starving.

The most affected counties are Tana River, Kwale and Kilifi which are historically food scarce.

National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) indicated yesterday that 60,300 people in Ganze, Magarini and Kaloleni sub-counties of Kilifi are facing extreme food shortages blamed on poor rains, harvest and long droughts.

According to Devolution and Asal Ministry Chief Administrative Secretary, Mr Hussein Dadho,Kilifi County is the worst affected with 60,300 people affected followed by Tana River with 59,700 and Kwale county with 45,800 of its population affected by drought.

The official said that the Government has stepped in to ensure that it mitigates against hunger and that funding to cushion masses against hunger have now been made available for that purpose.

Dado who toured Tana River on Monday which is one of the counties that are badly affected by drought said that relief food would be made available to affected families.

He said that a total of 14 counties have been hard hit by the disaster countrywide.He said the Government had already begun supplying relief food to the areas worst hit in Turkana county where there are reported cases of deaths as a result of the disaster.“Following the availability of funds, we shall be dispatching relief food to all those affected,” he said.

Dado said he the Ministry will be touring Tana River County on March 22 to distribute relief food.

“We are committed as a Government to ensure that no lives are lost as a result of hunger,” he said.Meanwhile, the government official said that they are working with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to conduct surveys in Tana River to ensure boreholes are dug and water is accessible.Bangale ward member of county assembly, Mr Ibrahim Sala said that his ward in Tana North is the worst hit with residents lacking water for domestic use and livestock.

A 20 litre jerrican of water is retailing for Sh50 calling on the national and county government to respond and provide water and food to the residents.


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