by Renson Nyamwezi

Julius Maghanga spent much of his Sunday in a queue, waiting to collect relief food.

After several hours spent outside the assistant chief’s office in Mgange-Dawida village in Wundanyi District, he received a two-kilogramme ration of maize. He promptly gave this to a nephew to take to a posho (flour) mill.

Two hours later, the nephew had not returned with the milled flour. The man was later seen at the shopping centre, without the maize. He had reportedly taken it to his estranged wife.

A bitter exchange of words arose between the two relatives. There was a scuffle and Maghanga, 65, was stabbed with a knife. He was rushed to Wesu Sub-District Hospital about 10km away where he died.

The weekend incident is an example of the extremes people are being pushed to as millions grapple with drought, food insecurity and looming famine.

In the Taita Taveta alone more than 200,000 are in dire need of food.

Residents told The Standard the old man lived alone and depended on donations from well-wishers and relief food.

"There was an argument when he asked the suspect why he had disappeared with his food," said Mr Don Bosco, a relative. The suspect fought with Maghanga then stabbed him.

Angry residents attacked the suspect and beat him up, leaving him for dead. Sources said they later took him to a hospital for treatment.

The suspect is said to have taken the maize to his wife who lives alone after they separated.

Taita-Taveta OCPD Herbert Khaemba said the suspect had been arrested and was being held at Wundanyi Police Station. He said police were also investigating claims the suspect was insane.

"The suspect is in custody and his case will be determined by a court," said Mr Khaemba.

Many families depend entirely on relief food from the Government and well wishers. Residents have turned to sand harvesting, and sale of charcoal, ballast and bush meat to cope with hunger.

Others have resorted to crude ways of survival like stealing from their neighbours.

At the Coast, nearly a million people face starvation. Coast Deputy PC Shauri Bakari said the situation in the province was grim. He said only the people living within the coastal strip are doing well, while those farther inland face starvation.

Mr Bakari said the Taita Taveta, Kinango, parts of Kwale and Msambweni, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu, Kaloleni district and Tana River delta are affected by the drought.