Migori County Government refutes claims that emergency relief food was distributed to churches

Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko addresses the Press at his office on May 13, 2025. [Anne Atieno, Standard]

Governor Ochillo Ayacko's administration has refuted claims that food meant for residents affected by emergencies has been distributed to churches holding camp meetings instead of being reserved for disaster response as the county prepares for the expected El Niño rains.

The allegations were raised by North Kadem Member of County Assembly (MCA) Samson Obonyo, who questioned the alleged distribution of relief food to churches during ongoing camp meeting gatherings held by the Seventh Day Adventist church.

Obonyo said the county had allocated Sh44.2 million in the 2026/27 financial year budget for emergency preparedness and response.

He further said the county government, through the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Natural Resources, had purchased relief supplies, including 500 bags of maize, 900 bags of rice, 500 bags of sugar and 500 bundles of wheat flour, alongside other non-food items.

The MCA expressed concern that the supplies could be depleted before emergencies arising from the anticipated heavy rains, leaving vulnerable residents without adequate assistance.

The county government dismissed the allegations, saying food being distributed to vulnerable people through churches and other community platforms was obtained through support from well-wishers and was not purchased using funds set aside for emergency preparedness and response.

Migori County Executive Committee Member for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Natural Resources Dr Edwin Omondi said the county had a responsibility to assist vulnerable residents even before disasters occur.

“As a county government, the governor has many friends. Even before a disaster occurs, we have vulnerable people, people who don’t have food,” Omondi said.

He said the county had leveraged its networks and relationships with well-wishers and other like-minded partners to mobilise assistance for vulnerable groups.

“It is through that networking that we have gotten such support from like-minded friends. That is what we have been using to support the vulnerable groups,” he said.

Omondi said the assistance was not limited to churches, adding that county officials were also reaching vulnerable people directly within communities.

“It is not just in the churches; we are actually penetrating the communities to support such people,” he said.

He explained that churches were sometimes used as a platform for identifying vulnerable residents because of their strong links with communities.

The CECM maintained that the county had not diverted funds allocated for emergency response to support church camp meetings.

“It is not true that we are using the money meant for the same to give relief food to churches,” he said.

The controversy comes as Migori prepares for the El Niño rains, when authorities are expected to strengthen preparedness for possible flooding and other weather-related emergencies.

The county government says emergency supplies remained untouched and were intended for residents affected by disasters, while food distributed through community networks is aimed at supporting vulnerable households with assistance mobilised separately from the emergency response allocation.