Dry weather conditions here to stay

The famine threatening millions of Kenyans is expected to worsen, with weathermen warning the dry weather conditions could persist for the next two months.

Meteorological Department boss James Muhindi attributed the La Nina-like phenomenon to the cool conditions in the Indian Ocean, which warmed up the sea’s surface temperatures.

Speedily sent

“The La Nina-like conditions that we are experiencing is the opposite of El-Nino (too much rain resulting in flooding) and are expected to persist up to late March...

“To alleviate starvation and famine, which millions of Kenyans are facing, the Government should draw up mechanisms to ensure relief food and other supplies are speedily sent to all needy Kenyans to avert a disaster,” Mr Muhindi cautioned.

For the last three seasons, most parts of the country that rely on rain-fed agriculture have experienced poor harvests, putting the lives of millions of Kenyans in jeopardy as they stare starvation in the face.

On Wednesday, acting Finance minister John Michuki said Kenyans were threatened with hunger because of the Government’s poor food distribution system.

Tax exemption

The minister said the maize shortage in the country should not be attributed to importation capacity, but on the “Government’s failed distribution mechanisms”.

“The logistics of food distribution (to famine-stricken areas) is wrong,” Mr Michuki said.

The minister revealed that the country had spent an equivalent of Sh2.5 billion by November last year on tax-exemption for maize importation.

He, however, refused to answer questions on the handling of maize imports at Mombasa port, saying he would respond to these at an appropriate time.

This is the first time that a member of the Grand Coalition Government has admitted that the food is available in the country, but that the problem lies with the distribution network.

There have been rising concerns that some dishonest individuals and cartels were worsening the non-availability of food by hoarding huge quantities of maize.

Shoot up