10 districts face acute food crisis

• Spending on relief has been increased to Sh1bn per month to feed 2m people

The government on Monday raised the red flag over worsening food insecurity in more than 10 districts.

Thousands of residents are facing an uncertain future as drought ravages most parts of the country, jeopardising efforts to feed at least 10 million Kenyans faced with hunger, Special Programmes minister, Naomi Shaban said.

Although Kenya’s food security is still on the borderline, reports indicate that many districts are at high risk of sliding into an acute food and livelihood crisis, she announced.

Those singled out are Kajiado, Narok, Ijara, west of Malindi, Garissa, Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Moyale and West Pokot.

The revelation comes at time when the government has increased its spending on relief food to Sh1 billion per month.

Dr Shaban said that since October, the government had increased its monthly allocation of relief food, providing an average of 230,000 bags of maize and other foodstuffs to feed at least 2 million people.

She was speaking at the Telkom Plaza when she flagged off relief food worth Sh6.6 million donation by Telkom Kenya and World Vision Kenya.

Failed rains

“It’s unfortunate that the country has experienced another season of failed rains, leading to food insecurity. The situation is further aggravated by factors that have persisted, including high food prices and livestock disease,” she said.

A recent Kenya Food Security Steering Group assessment indicates that 3.8 million people in arid and semi-arid areas require urgent humanitarian food assistance.