Devolution ministry receives Sh1b emergency kitty to cushion 1.5m people from hunger

After evaluating the impact of the failed long rains, the Government has allocated Sh1 billion to help counties in arid and semi-arid areas (Asals) fight hunger, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has said.

Ms Waiguru said more than 1.5 million people have been affected and will get food aid until March next year before coming up with a sustainable long-term solution.

“We have received Sh1 billion as emergency from the Treasury to tackle the biting food shortage in Asals and we intend to work closely with the county governments to tackle this problem together,” she said.

Addressing the Press shortly after meeting Mandera Governor Ali Roba, Waiguru said the assessment found that the amount of rainfall in most counties in Asals, was between 50 and 60 per cent, meaning most places did not receive rainfall as expected.

Only a few places at the Coast and Ukambani received between 90 and 150 per cent of the normal rain. More than 14.4 million people are classified by the United Nations as food insecure and are spread over nine nations, with the hardest hit countries including war-torn South Sudan and Somalia.

“We want to assure the people of the affected counties that both the national government and the county governments are aware of the biting hunger and they will be supplied with food immediately,” said Waiguru.

She said the assessment focused on impending food crisis in Baringo, Mandera, Samburu, Wajir, West Pokot, Turkana and Marsabit which are the worst hit.

“The Ministry of Devolution and Planning and the Asal committee of the county governments resolved that interventions towards addressing the situation will be set in motion by both the national and county governments,” said Waiguru.

Asal Committee Chairman Ali Roba said they will partner with the State to manage the situation.