Leaders in Ganze constituency have criticised the Kilifi county for allegedly distributing relief food to perceived ODM zones in the area.
The leaders called for immediate government intervention as thousands of residents face hunger and starvation.
Speaking at the homecoming party for Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu on Saturday at Kabelengani grounds in Bamba, the leaders also questioned why the county is distributing relief food without involving them.
Bamba MCA Said Mohamed wondered why Deputy Governor Florah Chibule was distributing food and water in his ward without involving him.
“The hunger situation needs concerted efforts. Do not sideline leaders when distributing relief food in their areas. Residents are angry that their leaders are not involved in the distribution of food and water. Let us not discriminate some areas because of their political inclination,” he said.
Before attending the homecoming party, Chibule was on a food distribution exercise in Bamba ward, but the local leadership had not been informed.
Chibule, however, defended herself, saying the food she was distributing was from partners.
She said she had distributed more than 1,000 bags of maize to residents in Sokoke and Ganze wards.
“We understand what ails Ganze subcounty and weather forecasters have told us that the situation will continue for another two years. I walked with the Lions Club in Dodosa, where we gave 600 and another 400 in Ganze but we are going to have a permanent solution to this problem,” Chibule said.
Sokoke MCA Thaura Mweni and his Mnarani ward counterpart Juma Chengo said that they would pass a supplementary budget at the county assembly so that the county could get money for disaster response.
“We shall set aside enough budget for the agriculture docket in an effort to try and solve the problem to make Ganze and Kilifi county food secure,” Chengo said.
Kazungu on his part urged leaders to unite and find a common solution for the hunger and drought problem in Ganze, including investing more in water harvesting for irrigation.
“We have taken leadership roles at a time when the situation is very bad. It has been five years since Ganze got enough rain but that is going to change because there are interventions we are going to put in place to ensure that the hunger we are facing is eradicated,” he said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
