According to statistics, close to 1.1million Kenyans are facing starvation and the situation is getting worse. In 17 out of 47 counties, there is no water and no food. Kenyans are dying, livestock are dying. Emaciated bodies of men, women and children paint a picture of a society at the crossroads.
No one has been spared. Even those with something to eat today worry for not knowing whether they will have food on their tables tomorrow. You would think these affected regions lack leaders or funding to support the most basic needs of their citizens, but no, this is not the case. It has been six years since the introduction of devolution and food security is among the President’s Big Four Agenda.
Turkana County has in the past financial years been among the top three counties with a hefty budget allocation. It also has the capacity to produce commercially viable oil as well as enough underground water to sustain Kenya for 60 years. What more can a county ask for?
There must be a very big problem with our leaders’ level of reasoning. Someone is sleeping on their job and something must be done. Prior to 2017 election, a row broke out between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok.
The President challenged the county boss to account for the 40 billion allocated to his county. The governor countered that he only received Sh3 billion. Still, with all its resources Turkana should be boasting of a thriving economy. Its level of infrastructure should be remarkable by now. But no, what we are being served is a sad picture of children, women and men dying as those who promised to watch over them thrive.
While addressing the drought issue on last week, Deputy President William Ruto insisted that there is sufficient food in the country and dispelled fears of a food crisis. So who do we believe now? We have seen school children drinking muddy water because it is their only option.
True, there is such an abundant harvest of maize in the Rift Valley that the government cannot buy all of it from farmers. Still, our leaders continue to give us conflicting information about everything; talking more and doing less.
When will our government ever come up with lasting solutions to problems facing us? Truth be told-our leaders are a package that comes with empty promises, convincing speeches and short memories. Simply put they are wolves in sheeps’ skins.
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