About 1.3m Kenyans affected by drought, govt says
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri (left) and his Treasury counterpart Henry Rotich at a press conference on October 14, 2016. PHOTO | AGGREY MUTAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Kiunjuri said a number of ministries are working together to ensure no Kenyan starves.
- "We would like to assure [the public] that the government is on top of this. There is no alarm," he said.
- The Treasury has released Sh254 million but the true cost of such intervention will be known after relevant ministries assess their needs.
About 1.3 millions Kenyans are affected by drought, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said on Friday.
Mr Kiunjuri, however, said than number is lower than what it was three years ago.
Kilifi is the worst-hit county among the 23 counties affected by the drought. Other affected counties are Tana River, Kwale, West Pokot, Tharaka-Nithi, and all the counties in the northeastern region.
Mr Kiunjuri said the government has spent Sh90 million to feed people in Kilifi and dig wells.
In Tana River County, the government has spent Sh75 million to help farmers, he said.
"There is no report of any Kenyan who has died of hunger," Mr Kiunjuri said.
He said a number of ministries are working together to ensure no Kenyan starves.
"We would like to assure [the public] that the government is on top of this. There is no alarm," he said.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the cost of drought intervention is not known, adding that the ministries of Water, Health, Agriculture and Devolution will handle intervention programmes and will meet to assess the money needed.
He said the Treasury has released Sh254 million but the true cost of such intervention will be known after the relevant ministries assess their needs.
