Sh37bn plea to save victims of famine

• Post-election chaos, drought and global economy blamed for national food crisis

President Kibaki said the Sh37 billion would go to help in several areas.

At least Sh30.2 billion will be required for emergency food, while another 3.8 billion will be for the education sector.

Learning institutions have not been spared by the famine, with some schools having to raise levies to buy food.

In other areas, especially those in arid and semi arid regions, some institutions are under the school feeding programme, which is equally affected by the drought.

President Kibaki said Sh1.3 billion would be used on water, health and nutritional programmes.

“We shall also need Sh2.6 billion to be used in the agriculture and livestock interventions,” he added.

The Government had made arrangements to import seven million bags of maize at an estimated cost of Sh17 billion, added the President.

The maize will be sold to lower and stabilise food prices.

As a medium term intervention, President Kibaki said the Government would make available about 93,000 tonnes of fertiliser at affordable prices.

“We will also reduce the price of seed by 10 per cent,” he added.

The Government would also make arrangements to provide affordable ploughing services in rural areas, he said.

Forest fires

But most parts of the country have remained dry. Areas such as Kericho and Kipkelion in the Rift Valley Province, which are known to be agriculturally productive are so dry that the forestry department has declared a fire season.

Fires constantly break out in the forests there.

The problem has even led the forester in charge of the two district, Mr Caleb Manyala, to recall some officers and guards who are on their annual leave.