The national government in partnership with Kwale county has heightened intervention efforts to cushion the residents of Kwale hit hard by drought.
County commissioner Gideon Oyagi said the government has started distributing relief food to the affected areas.
More than 200, 000 Kwale residents are facing starvation as the pangs of hunger occasioned by drought intensify in the region.
Samburu, Kinango and Lunga-Lunga subcounties are the hardest hit, as well as some parts of Matuga and Msambweni.
About 5, 280 bags of relief food were received by the county. They contain 3,200 bags of rice, 1280 of beans and 800 cartons of packed meat (candbeef).
Oyagi said the drought situation is due to the failed rains in the region that has left majority of water sources dry.
Farming has also proved to be unproductive as crops die following the prolonged dry season.
The administrator said already 400 bags of rice, 160 bags of beans (50kgs) and 100 cartons of candbeef have been distributed to Samburu residents.
"We sent food to Samburu since residents there are the most affected and are in dire need of help," he said.
The second batch of equal amount would be dispatched to Kinango and later in other remaining subcounties.
Oyagi spoke Saturday in a press briefing at Kwale headquarters in Matuga.
He said they have also received food from the Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service.
The food is also expected to be distributed to the affected residents by Monday.
The county security chief said the government, in collaboration with the devolved unit, is working around the clock to address the hunger issue.
He said no resident would die of starvation as appropriate measures are in place to ensure the targeted people get the food on time.
Oyagi advised the county food distribution committees to make sure the relief food is fairly distributed to the right people.
He said the government is determined to accelerate the response and contigency plans to save the residents from the effects of drought.
The county security chief said they have reached out to multiple donors who have promised to assist.
He said the government is partnering with the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Vision and Plan International to launch cash transfer and food programmes to help the drought-hit residents sustain themselves.
He further said the stipends would assist residents to fight and reduce the hunger effects.
Oyagi said they are looking forward to starting a livestock off-take programme to support drought-affected communities from losses induced by animal death.
The government would be buying weak cattle to be slaughtered to feed the vulnerable families.
Last year, thousands of livestock perished in Kwale due to drought.
The government is also planning to send water boozers and trucks in the most drought affected areas.
A week ago, Governor Fatuma Achani said the drought situation in the region is about to reach an alarming level if rains delay further.
Oyagi, however, said there are no cases of human or animal deaths, and the government is sending necessary help to prevent the current situation from worsening.
However, some residents in Samburu alleged that some animals have started to fall.
Last week, the Australian mining firm Base Titanium distributed 1,650 bags of relief food to Samburu residents.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
