With the ongoing drought situation in the country, the government and sponsors have discussed ways to tackle the disaster, with Kshs. 11 billion still required to cater for the affected citizens in the affected counties. According to Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe, the government, through the National Treasury, has so far approved Kshs 7.4 billion to be used in phase two of the drought situation, which runs from February up to April. “We still have the 11 billion gap but we believe our partners will support us to ensure it’s dealt with,” he said.
He said in the phase one the government used Ksh 5.5 billion from September, October, December, and January, targeting food, water, livestock, health, nutrition and education.
The Agriculture PS noted the help Kenya has received from international partners, citing that the Chinese government is willing to donate food to the country within one or two weeks. “The European Union have committed Kshs 1 billion to cash transfer, particularly to the vulnerable,” said Lesiyampe.
The Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society Dr Abbas Gullet urged Kenyans to come out and donate whatever they have to help those who are faced with the ongoing drought. “Our work is to work hand in hand with the government as partners to address the needs of the people,” he said. He urged young Kenyans to take up farming ventures, indicating that the potential to reap benefits lies there. He said the government has to be credited to what its done till now and credited for realizing they need partners to tackle the situation.
PS Lesiyampe said there will be a third phase to mitigate the drought, starting from May to July, because of predictions from the meteorological department that highlight that there will be a depressed season of rain, where rains will come early and end sooner, with the Northern part of the country getting 25% less rain.
