The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has started delivering water using water trucks to drought-stricken Ganze sub-county, Kilifi County where schools have been affected the most.
East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Beatrice Askul said that the drought response intervention will help distribute clean and fresh water to schools in Bamba ward where the county’s school feeding programme is almost grinding to a halt.
CS Askul said that most schools are now forced to buy water several kilometers away while residents in those areas walk at least five kilometers to buy a 20-litre jerrican of water at Ksh40.
Speaking during the launch of the programme at Ndigiria village in Bamba, Askul in the company of Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu, said that the initiative was in response to worsening drought and food insecurity in 30 drought prone counties.
“The poor performance of the March to May long rains season has led to severe food and water shortages, leaving approximately 78,800 people food insecure, particularly in Ganze, Kaloleni, and Magarini sub-counties with Ganze Sub-county being the most affected,” she said. “At least 19,000 people in Bamba and Sokoke wards in the Sub County require immediate relief assistance.”
She noted that livestock farmers were facing dwindling pasture availability, leading to increased migration of livestock and tensions over scarce resources. The county’s milk production has also dropped, worsening child malnutrition rates, particularly in the ward.
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CS Askul distributed 600 bags of rice and 520 bags of beans worth Ksh7.98 million to residents and assured that more relief food was on the way.
She said that through development partners such as Plan International and GiveDirectly, at least 4,600 households are benefiting from cash transfers in Ganze and Kaloleni sub-counties, while World Vision Kenya has provided water storage tanks to nine schools in Bamba ward.
She added that the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) Kenya is also distributing drought-tolerant seeds in preparation for the October to December season.
“The government, in collaboration with partners, will continue to monitor the situation closely. However, beyond emergency responses, we are committed to implementing long-term resilience-building measures to address the root causes of vulnerability in ASAL regions,” said CS Askul.
By Nehemiah Okwembah
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