By John Majau
Learners in Tigania, Buuri and Igembe are dropping out of school in large numbers due to hunger brought about by drought continues ravaging the Eastern region.
Margret Ikiara, the Ciford Kenya Director has been distributing food to schools to keep children in class and has now embarked on visiting homes.
“We have started issuing relief food to the elderly, those with infants and widows,” Ikiara said.
She called upon the Meru county government to allocate emergency funds to roll out relief food in the dry areas of county.
“The drought is causing a lot of problems. In Tiira, Igembe North, residents are tapping water from trees using strings from banana steps,” she said.
She noted that the area has not experienced enough rainfall for almost four seasons now.
“We pray for those who can afford three meals to forego one meal so as to help those who are starving,” she said.
Ikiara appealed to the national government to start another round of senior citizens’ registration to receive funds for their food and upkeep.
She castigated those encouraging the ‘Shamba’ system of farming saying that we are the cause of climate change due to the reckless destruction of forests.
“I am against the ‘Shamba’ system of farming. It must be abolished to improve our environment. Why cut a tree if you can’t plant another one? Rivers are drying and soon even sinking water will be a thing of the past if stern measures are not taken,” she said.
She urged people to plant trees instead of cutting them for charcoal.
“We must learn to plant two trees after cutting one. Trees are our future. All counties and the Ministry of Environment must enforce laws that encourage tree planting,” Ikiara said.
