Track star launches drive against hunger

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By Osinde obare and Daniel Nzia

Marathon legend Tegla Loroupe has launched a food aid campaign.

The initiative will benefit people starving in West Pokot and Turkana districts.

She expects to collect 700 bags of maize and 300 bags of beans to be distributed by relief agencies.

"I’m appealing for food donations from privileged Kenyans to help vulnerable families in the two districts," said Ms Loroupe.

She launched Pamoja Tupunguze Njaa (Together we can reduce hunger) at her Siyoi home in Kapenguria.

The former marathon champion asked well wishers to support the initiative.

Learning affected

She said learning in most schools in the two districts had been affected by famine.

Her initiative will involve the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local journalists.

Loroupe also expressed concern over the destruction of local forests with little intervention from the Government.

Loroupe said depletion of forests posed a threat to the lives of Kenyans.

"Food insecurity can be addressed through the protection of forests and the planting of more trees," said Loroupe.

She said Lelan Forest, which forms part of the Cherangany water tower, was threatened by illegal logging.

Loroupe challenged Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa to monitor the conservation of forests.

Meanwhile, Nairobi West Hospital employees denied themselves Easter holiday leisure to donate food to starving residents of Kathonzweni District in Ukambani.

At least 400 families from Mathemba,Kiundwani and Uini benefited from a donation of 170 bales of maize flour.

Dr Sammy Kyalo and Prof J Ndetei, who represented the hospital’s Marketing Manager Anthony Chako, distributed the food.

Hospital Managing Director Tina Saini said staff, including doctors, felt touched by the plight of the starving residents.

"We have read and seen on television the kind of suffering people in the semi-arid area undergo and decided to help," she said.

Elsewhere, the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation donated seeds worth Sh575,000 to the residents of Katangi Division in Yatta.

Local DC John Kinjo, who represented the VP’s wife Pauline, distributed the seed maize to residents.

Mr Kinjo urged the Government to invest in irrigation farming to boost food production in dry areas.