Five Mt Kenya counties set aside Sh770m to fight drought

A couple goes home after receiving relief food in Nginyang, Baringo County on February 10, 2017. Five counties in the Mt Kenya region have set aside close to Sh770 million to buy relief food and supply water in areas worst hit by drought. PHOTO | CHEBOITE KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  NATION TEAM

What you need to know:

  • Nyeri has increased funds set aside to mitigate drought by Sh100 million.
  • Murang’a County is also targeting to distribute relief food to 3,000 people.
  • Marsabit County, which is hardest hit, has distributed 700 metric tonnes of an assortment of relief food.
  • Embu County has allocated Sh20m for building water pans.

Five counties in the Mt Kenya region have set aside close to Sh770 million to buy relief food and supply water in areas worst hit by drought.

Officials said the decision to allocate the monies will speed up the process of responding to the disaster.

In Nyeri, the county government has increased funds set aside to mitigate drought by Sh100 million.

Also Read

According to data released by the county, at least 30,000 people are affected by drought, especially in parts of Kieni Constituency.

Acting County Secretary Alice Wachira said the Sh20 million emergency fund is not be enough.

An extra Sh100 million has been factored in the supplementary budget to be tabled in the assembly.

Murang’a County is also targeting to distribute relief food to 3,000 people.

In Tharaka-Nithi, the county government has raised Sh20 million to buy relief food, according to Governor Samuel Ragwa.

In a press briefing in Chogoria, Mr Ragwa said county is in the process of procuring relief food.

“We don’t want any of our people to die of starvation,” he said.

APPEAL TO DEVOLUTION MINISTRY

He asked the Devolution ministry to deliver relief food as promised by President Kenyatta during his visit to the county in January.

Marsabit County, which is hardest hit, has distributed 700 metric tonnes of an assortment of relief food to over 250,000 people.

According to Deputy Speaker Sora Guyo, Sh420 million will be used to buy food and water for those affected but Governor Ukur Yatani said his government is running out of resources to support the affected families.

Mr Yatani Wednesday asked the county assembly to pass the supplementary budget submitted three weeks ago.

“MCAs should rise to the occasion and put the interests of our people first,” he said.

In Isiolo, Sh200 million will be used to mitigate the effects of the drought.

Governor Godana Doyo said in an earlier event that Sh1 billion is required to mitigate drought and pledged to increase the allocation to Sh300 million.

In Mandera, mass delivery of relief food in all the six sub-counties is scheduled to start this week.

Embu County has allocated Sh20m for building water pans.

Reports by Grace Gitau, Vivian Jebet, Kennedy Kimanthi, Isabel Githae, Irene Mwendwa, Alex Njeru and Martin Mwaura

In the headlines