Rains fail Kwale residents for three planting seasons

Rains have failed in the larger Kwale district of Coast Province for three consecutive planting seasons. Now residents are in dire need of relief food.

Statistics from the Kenya Red Cross Society show that more than 200,000 residents of Kinango, Msambweni and Kwale districts are severely hit by famine and depend solely on relief supplies either from the government or well wishers.

Ms Luvuno Katambo, a mother of five at Kiziamonzo in Kinango District, knows too well that if rains do not come at the right time and in good quantity, it would still be the same story again as they will not benefit from their five-acre piece of land.

“Rains have failed us for three consecutive planting seasons. This means that if relief food is not forthcoming, then we will have to go without food. This land is very fertile and the acreage that my family has is enough to produce sufficient food to keep us going without any problem,” she said clutching a small gunny bag containing maize she had just received from a donor.

The residents who have been depending on relief food supplies also blame the famine in the area on wild animals which stray into their farms during cultivation.

Mzee Rama Bakari Dau says the situation has been aggravated by wild animals and wants the Kenya Wildlife Service to keep the animals in their habitat to secure their farms.

“What is the use of putting all effort and resources to till the land and plant only for wild animals to come and eat everything?

“We have complained about this for many years but there is little, if any, action being taken,” he said.

Area councillor Mohamed Kassim Tumbo said famine had forced the residents to eat up the seeds they had been preserving in their stores and asked the government to assist by providing high quality seeds that will withstand drought.

Kinango MP Gonzi Rai confirmed the famine situation, adding that the relief food given by the government was not sufficient.

“It is even worse that getting the food to the affected areas has also been a problem due to lack of transport. There was an oversight when the new Kinango District was created as most of the facilities remained within Kwale District yet Kinango is an arid and semi-arid area which needs some special attention,” he said.