Millions hit by starvation threat

 

A woman and children ensure no maize grain goes to waste at Chokochok in Turkana Central, Turkana County where Devolution Permanent Secretary Gideon Konchellah distributed relief food on January 29, 2014. Over 1.7 million people currently need relief food as drought continues to ravage parts of the country. PHOTO/JARED NYATAYA 

In Summary

• Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said one million households are relying on relief food. The situation is expected to worsen in June and July as the current maize stocks can only last up to May.
• Currently, he said the government has 2.8 million bags of maize as part of the strategic food reserve.
• Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said Turkana was the hardest hit county by drought. In a statement, she said others are Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta.

By LUCAS BARASA
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By MIKE MWANIKI
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Over 1.7 million people currently need relief food as drought continues to ravage parts of the country.

To mitigate against the effects of the drought, the government has released Sh2.3 billion, which will be shared with counties.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said one million households are relying on relief food.

The situation is expected to worsen in June and July as the current maize stocks can only last up to May.

“At the current levels of consumption and expected harvest, the available balance shall be 558,000 bags. This will not be adequate to cover the months of May to end of July when early harvesting of 2014 long rains crop is expected to start,” Mr Koskei said.

MEASURES TO MITIGATE

Addressing journalists in his Kilimo House office, Mr Koskei however said the government was putting in place measures to mitigate the situation.

“We are confident it will not be a disaster. We are monitoring eating habits,” the CS said.

The minister, who was accompanied by permanent secretaries Ntiba Micheni (Fisheries) and Khadijah Kassachoon (Livestock), also urged the private sector to import maize to bridge the food deficit.

“We urge maize farmers to also grow varieties that take three months and below to mature,” Mr Koskei said.

Currently, he said the government has 2.8 million bags of maize as part of the strategic food reserve.

By December 31 last year, the country had 13.3 million bags of maize. Farmers were holding 8.5 million bags, traders’ 2.1 million , millers 500,000 and NCPB 2.2 million.

It is estimated that each Kenyan consumes a bag of maize annually.

Separately, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said Turkana was the hardest hit county by drought.

In a statement, she said others are Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta.

“Pockets of high potential areas are also affected,” she said, adding that her ministry has distributed relief including maize, beans, rice, cooking oil and Nutropap worth Sh348 million.

RELIEF

She said 153,000 people were in need of food in Turkana and that apart from drought, the situation was compounded by raids among communities.

Ms Waiguru said her ministry has been providing relief supplies to Turkana residents daily.

She added that Sh1.3 billion meant for relief programmes was devolved to counties this financial year.