Is anyone in Government taking hunger threat seriously?

When Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei confidently assures Kenyans that the country has enough food supplies to meet everybody’s needs, few can take him seriously.

Even as reports of deaths occasioned by famine continue being splashed in the media, Mr Koskei’s contention is that there are enough food supplies in drought-hit areas of Turkana, Samburu, Mandera, Garrisa, Baringo and Wajir except that the residents are too poor to afford the food.

Granted, the residents are poor, but what is the role of the Government in such dire situations?

Is it prudent that people should die because they are poor as the Government holds onto food in its silos?

Such a cavalier attitude erodes the people’s confidence in their Government. It paints a Government that does not care much about its people.

A survey by the Kenya Red Cross says almost two million people need urgent food supplies as drought ravages some parts of the country, notably Baringo and outlying areas. The Red Cross has noted that these areas are experiencing serious food shortages.

Because the Meteorological Department and other United Nations weather agencies have regularly sent out early warnings of changes in weather patterns, Mr Koskei’s assertion that drought sets in faster than the Government can plan does not hold any water.

This is an indictment of a Government that sits back and waits to react to emergencies, yet its disaster preparedness is always wanting.

Efforts by the Baringo County Government, under which Sh100 million has been set aside to mitigate the effects of drought, should be supplemented by the national government.

This money may not be enough to cater for the long-term needs of the starving millions whose lives must be saved at whatever cost. Both Baringo Governor John Cheboi and Senator Gideon Moi have signalled their intentions to set in motion plans to ensure residents do not rely on the rains for agricultural production.

This is welcome. Irrigation schemes should be rolled out across the counties to aid production as there are projections of continued drought for months ahead.