• As of September, over 3,000 animals had died, while people are now surviving on wild fruits.
• The most affected areas are Ganze, Magarini, Kaloleni, and parts of Malindi.
The Kilifi government has appeled to donors, well-wishers and NGOs to help over 148,000 families affected by drought.
Gender executive Anisa Omar said the situation is worrying and families are in dire need of food.
As of September, over 3,000 animals had died, while people are now surviving on wild fruits.
The most affected areas are Ganze, Magarini, Kaloleni, and parts of Malindi.
Anisa said out of the 21 counties affected by drought, Kilifi is second.
She said many families have been affected and there are fears that even the short rains will not come.
"You see rains only in town along the coastal line but deep inside the county, it is very dry and people are suffering as they did not harvest anything. Even the short rains will not be adequate, maybe two weeks, and there will be no time to harvest anything," she said.
The county executive spoke when she handed over wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility equipment for people with disabilities donated by Rotary Club of Malindi in partnership with other Rotary clubs.
Anisa requested the Rotary and other organisations to partner with the county government in private-public partnership to help the affected families.
She said the county is doing its part but the extent of the disaster demands concerted efforts to address the situation.
"On behalf of the county government of Kilifi, I call for your support to see how best we can support the people. As a county government, we are doing our part but the numbers are high and it is through a partnership that we can address the problem. The affected people have nothing to eat," she said.
Rotary Club of Malindi president Conrad Masinde said they are aware of the drought situation in Kilifi and Ganze in particular and promised to intervene.
He said the Rotary club authorities, including presidents, governors and other senior officials, are in talks and soon develop a plan to support victims.
"Clubs now are trying to do things together, to cooperate so that we see what we can do given that you have said you want to partner with us in form of private-public partnership and I think that is the way to go," he said.
Masinde said the distribution of the wheelchairs and other equipment was one of their legacy projects as they are passionate about people living with disabilities.
He noted that the most affected people by drought are PLWDs.
"We did mapping and identified over 200 people living with disability and 70 per cent of them are children with cerebral palsy and they need specialised wheelchairs," he said.
Masinde said the Rotary Club of Nakuru donated 12 wheelchairs, four of them specialized for cerebral palsy, nine for children and three for adults.
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Karengata donated 90 white canes for people who are visually impaired.
Rotary Club of Nakuru president Joab Okelo said they were happy to support with mobility equipment.
"We are so happy to see the number of beneficiaries that have been reached. We didn't just bring wheelchairs, we looked at the cases and were able to give wheelchairs as per their needs.
"We had cerebral palsy cases and were able to give them special wheelchairs and there are those we gave the normal wheelchairs," he said.
On his part, Rotary club of Karingata Nairobi presidnet Dan Munyori said they were happy as Rotarians to change the lives of people by supporting them.
"We have about 200 presidents, so if there is a need for any club you can always post and you find that the need is addressed," he said.
Samson Abadula, a visually impaired person from Malindi, said he was happy for the cane donation as it will enable him with his day-to-day activities.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI