Hunger crisis: Thousands face starvation

By Peter Orengo

The 80-year-old disabled Turkana woman whose sunken cheeks, shriveled skin, sagging breasts, and poor eyesight, came to symbolise the ravage of famine in Kenya is no more.

Despite the fact that her picture, which spoke volumes about the cruelty of life in the far-flung

insecurity and famine spots, Mama Lokopura Louwa died of hunger five days ago.

The death of the old woman whose story summed up the misery and squalor of life around her, and whose picture anchored The Standard’s shocking headline, ‘Are they Kenyans?’ is an indictment of the nation.

Louwa may not have known, but she died as MPs, including those from her region, conspired to beat the taxman’s demand for his pound of flesh from their fat pay, and haggled over whether it is to the police or National Intelligence Service that Sh2 billion some were unhappy had been given to the spymaster by Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

Immortalised on film is Turkana resident Lokopura Louwa who died of hunger last week. Many like her, have succumbed to the pangs of hunger. Their suffering is an indictment of our country Kenya. [PHOTO: File/STANDARD]

She also died, like many who have succumbed to starvation including children, unaware the Cabinet had a few months ago ordered wide-ranging measures to minimise effects of the drought.

This month, the UN and G-20 group of States described the current famine as the worst to hit Kenya and the Horn of Africa in 60 years.

She died, to Kenya’s shame, before help reached her, and when rains pounded some other parts of the country, stole attention from the ravage of famine.

Rapid response

Like many others who have faced similar fate, her burial must have been simple, if ever there was any. The most she can be is a memory to the middle class and a statistic on the Government books, as it pleads with donors and other ‘well-wishers’.

As drought and famine tightened its grip on Kenya, a coalition of corporations and media houses launched a rapid response initiative to feed about 3.5 million starving Kenyans.

Dubbed Kenyans for Kenya, the funds drive, which would be administered by Kenya Red Cross Society, aims to raise over Sh500 million, in four weeks.

The worst hit areas include North Eastern Province and parts of North Rift, among them Turkana, Pokot and Baringo. Relief agencies have reported a rise in hunger-related deaths in camps within North Eastern Province, while The Standard independently found people were dying in Turkana from hunger-related cases.

It was also reported by local leaders that six other people had recently succumbed to pangs of hunger.

Joshua Changwony, a Baringo politician, visited the Standard newsroom to report the situation in his area was dumbfounding.

"Children are eating wild fruits in parts of Baringo North and Central, because persistent drought led to crop failure and yet the grave situation is not receiving attention," Mr Changwony said.

The initiative by the corporations brings together Safaricom Foundation, Kenya Commercial Bank, the Standard Group, and Nation Media Group among other media houses operating under the umbrella of Media Owners Association.

The worsening situation has been exacerbated by runaway inflation, a poor maize crop for the current season, and ballooning refugee crisis in unstable Somalia, whose effect has been saturation of local refugee camps.

According to the UN’s revised budget for Kenya to respond effectively to the crisis, about Sh20 billion is needed.

Speaking at the launch at Safaricom House and attended by several chief executives and media owners, Safaricom CEO Bob Callymore appealed to Kenyans to contribute to the initiative, touted as the biggest famine appeal ever mounted.

Apart from contributions to be made to an account opened by KCB, well wishers will send money to an MPESA account. Publicity for the initiative has been extended to the Internet via Twitter and Facebook. "Kenyans are dying and time to act is now. We must discard the garb of competition and rally together," said Collymore. He said Safaricom would take a moral responsibility to lead Kenya’s corporate response to the crisis.

He also thanked media owners for joining the initiative; saying their contribution would help harness public opinion, which will eventually lead to the much-needed help.

Earlier, some of the CEOs shed tears after watching a video showing the desperation of people of Turkana. The clip showed emaciated mothers and children frantically clamouring for relief food being distributed by Kenya Red Cross. The weak had to be supported to eat or get the food.

Kenya Red Cross Director Abbas Gullet said each year the organisation is forced to deal with twin catastrophes of drought and floods, yet one is capable of taking care of the other.

From left, Kenya Red Cross Society director Abbas Gullet, Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly, and Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore during the launch of the drought fundraising campaign "Kenyans for Kenyans" Wednesday. [PHOTO: AGNES RUBE/STANDARD]

The organisation said in January it warned of an eminent drought and advised the Government to put in place mitigation measures, but sadly nothing was done.

"It is wrong to see https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images splashed before the world of Kenyans emaciated from hunger yet again we had to rescue people from floods the other day," said Gullet.

He asked donors and the Government to consider permanent interventions measures like building dams.

Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly, who attended the launch, called on the private sector to support the initiative.

He said the Standard Group would help through Standard newspapers, Radio Maisha, and KTN. "We will ensure we synchronise our efforts with the private sector so that the initiative succeeds. All Kenyans must do their part to ensure our brothers and sisters who are suffering are helped," said Melly. KCB, through its CEO, Martin Oduor-Otieno promised to mobilise over 5,000 staff to make individual contributions.

"The writing is on the wall. People will die if help is not forthcoming," said Otieno when he gave the account for contributions.

It is A/C 11 33 33 33 38.

Those who wish to send money through Safaricom’s M-PESA, can post to 111111, at no charge.

There will also be KRCS cash-tins in KCB’s 169 branches countrywide.

Nutritious

Nation Media Group CEO Linus Gitahi asked the Government and NGOs to come up with projects aimed at securing national food security.

Money raised through Kenyans for Kenya campaign is expected to finance a raft of short and medium-term interventions to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable groups.

Short-term interventions will include buying of Unimix, a nutritious pre-cooked meal for feeding programmes in schools, health centres, and to distributed at other strategic locations.

KRCS said a ton of Unimix costs Sh105,000 and can feed 100 children for four to five months. Trucking 15,000 litres of water within a distance of 100km will cost Sh25,000.