Govt dispels fears of depleted maize reserves as hunger bites

What you need to know:

  • Children remain the most affected by the drought as they are forced to leave school in search of food and water.
  • Donor agencies such as the United Nations are calling on the international community to help alleviate the drought effects.

There is enough maize in the reserve stores to feed the country, the government said.

According to Johnston Irungu, the director of crops in the Ministry of Agriculture, there are currently 3.1 million bags of maize in the Strategic Grain Reserves nationwide.

This should sustain the country until the next harvest.

On Monday, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa gave the inhabitants of drought-stricken Tana River, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta, Kwale and Kajiado counties relief food from the country’s SGR to alleviate the biting hunger.

Three million bags of maize were among the supplies taken to the counties.

DROUGHT

According to Save the Children, about three million Kenyans are in need of food aid as rain remains elusive in the country.

Last month, Peter Kuguru the chairman of the United Grain Millers Association, had predicted that the maize reserves will be completely depleted by the end of March and that a 2kg packet of flour would cost over Sh200.

He also foretold that the country would have to import the maize from our neighbours Tanzania and Uganda.

The government has refuted these claims and says that we have enough food.

According to Unicef, the counties worst hit by the drought are Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir and Baringo.

This is because of the failed rains in 2017 and expected dry season this year.

MAIZE SUBSIDY
Currently, a 2kg packet is retailing at Sh115 on average.

This follows the end of the government subsidy programme in December that saw the price of a packet of maize flour go for Sh90.

In January, according to Principal Secretary for Agriculture Richard Lesiyampe, the National Cereals and Produce Board had bought upwards of 1.8 million bags of maize from farmers.

This, he had assured, would suffice for the dry season and there would be no need for the government to step in to subsidise flour prices.

DISEASES

Children remain the most affected by the drought as they are forced to leave school in search of food and water.

One million children are expected to drop out of school this year should the situation remain the same.

The lack of potable water also raises the occurrence of water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.

Donor agencies such as the United Nations are calling on the international community to help alleviate the drought effects.

So far 119.9 million Euros (Sh14billion) is needed to help relieve the situation.

Garissa Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane on Thursday appealed for help from national government and other agencies in a bid to mitigate ongoing drought that he said is worsening by the day.

RELIEF FOOD
Speaking during the flagging of animal feeds to different sub-counties, Mr Dagane said urgent support in terms of food supplies, animal feed and water is required for hundreds of villagers across the county.

National Drought Management Authority county coordinator Abdinoor Dubow said worst affected sub-counties are Lagdera, Balambala, Hulugho, Dadaab, Fafi and Garissa township ranked as least affected in the dry spell.