Local initiative brings relief to hungry families

• New programme sets short-and long-term plans to feed people in Ukambani

When the government declared chronic food shortages in parts of the country a national disaster in January, professionals, politicians and religious leaders from Ukambani were already thinking hard about the perennial food crisis in the region.

And in a rare show of unity, they came up with an ambitious Sh1 billion programme dubbed The Mutui Museo (Good Neighbour) to feed the hungry. The initiative is aimed at offering food rations in the short term and creating irrigation projects to sustain food security.

“Mutui Museo is an idea whose time has come,” said Isaac Kalua, who chairs the initiative. “The money and food raised through this initiative will be divided equitably among the four original Ukambani districts – Kitui, Mwingi, Machakos and Makueni. Each of the original districts would get Sh250 million.”

Mr Kalua, who is also the chairman of Green Africa Foundation, an environmental body that is actively involved in tree planting in dry areas, said he has been humbled by the overwhelming response to the initiative.

“It was decided that the initiative must be run on a strictly professional basis. Money raised for the cause must be accounted for to ensure that it is channelled to the intended purpose,” he told the Sunday Nation.

So Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi was appointed one of the signatories to the account opened at the Kenya Commercial Bank, and auditors from the community have offered to audit the accounts.

The initiative is partneriong with the Kenya Red Cross to distribute food to the needy in the region. So far, Mr Kalua said, food worth more than Sh10 million has been distributed in Mwingi (Sh4.7 million), Kitui (Sh4.5 million) and Makueni (Sh3.7 million).

“We have held various fund-raising events, and the response has been overwhelming,” he said.

“This is not about individuals, neither is it about politics. It is about the hungry people of Ukambani. We want to see that our people live with dignity and do not have to beg for food rations.”

Mr Kalua blames bad political leadership for the hunger in the region.

“Unfortunately, some of our leaders have in the past perpetuated the culture of dependence by manipulating relief rations as a way of securing selfish political gain,” he says.

He adds that Mutui Museo has steered clear of political patronage to give professionalism a chance.

“It should, however, be noted that current and former MPs are actively involved in this initiative. All we are saying is that partisan politics should take a back seat in the interest of the hungry.”

Mutui Museo is also working with the government.

“Ours is just to complement government efforts. Where possible, we shall seek to intervene at the policy making level to ensure that decisions made are favourable to the region,” he said.

The initiative has also sought the blessings of the community’s council of elders, whose presence has galvanised the members drawn from various professional backgrounds to come together and contribute towards this noble goal.

And to avoid falling into the trap of reliance on relief food, the initiative involves sinking boreholes and building dams.

Mr Kalua said there is no reason why Ukambani should not emulate desert countries like Egypt and Israel that have perfected irrigation farming.

Mutui Museo has an operational structure with a board of trustees, including Sam Muumbi and Keli Kiilu.

The 17 MPs from the region, who have each agreed to contribute Sh250,000, have their own board consisting of Kiema Kilonzo, Wavinya Ndeti and Johnstone Muthama. Mr Kalua is the chairman of the executive committee.

Faith Kithu is the vice-chairman, Joseph Mutava is the secretary, and Fred Mutiso is the treasurer.