Over 200,000 people in Kwale county are still in dire need of food aid as the rains have failed for the last four seasons.
In Kinango, which is one of the most affected regions, some 38,000 people are suffering as a result of continued drought.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Monday distributed food items worth 1.5 million to 1,000 affected households in the area.
Addressing the media in the Lutsangoni area, where 650 families received the items, KPA chairman Benjamin Tayari said they will continue supporting the affected persons around the country.
Another batch of 350 families at Mwalukomba village, Ndavaya ward also benefited from the KPA food donation.
“President William Ruto has called on all Kenyans and other organisations of goodwill to help Kenyans in need of food and water as the government also strives to assist those affected by the drought.
“I want to assure you that as KPA, we shall continue with our CSR programs, not only here in Kwale, but also in other parts of the country that are affected by the drought,” Tayari said.
The rains have failed for the last four seasons in most parts of the country with the weatherman predicting minimal rains this season too.
According to the 2022 long rains food and nutritional security assessment report released by the National Drought Management Authority at State House Nairobi in February, about six million people in 32 counties are affected by the prolonged drought and acute malnutrition.
This is due to a fifth consecutive poor rainfall season especially in ASAL counties.
The report indicated the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance stood at 4.5 million with the drought situation expected to worsen in 21 of the 23 arid and semi-arid counties.
The current drought situation has been one of the longest and most severe in recent times, resulting in widespread livelihood losses and massive displacement of populations.
Tayari said the increasing intensity and shorter cycles between droughts are amplifying the vulnerability of the communities and their ability to cope.
“It pains us when we see some of our people having to feed on wild fruits to keep hunger pangs at bay. In such challenging times it becomes the responsibility of organisations like ours to contribute to the well-being of the society,” Tayari said.
KPA has over the years supported communities through its CSR programme ranging from health, education, environment conservation, sports, humanitarian aid and relief and women empowerment programmes.
“We have distributed food in different parts of the region including Taita Taveta and Tana River, where we also held a free medical camp that saw 1,000 people get treated last month. Plans are already underway for a free medical camp here in Kwale next month,” said Bernard Osero, KPA Corporate Communications manager.
Osero added that KPA was also planning to distribute clean drinking water to affected persons, adding that in the future, they are looking at sinking boreholes to help the communities access water for irrigation.
Kinango assistant county commissioner Abdulahi Galgalo said the government was doing its best to ensure families affected by the drought get food.
“We have already received food from the National government of over 2,000 bags of rice and beans which we plan to start distributing next week in all affected places of Kinango,” Galgalo said.
He said the food will be distributed to the most vulnerable families in Kinango and Ndavaya divisions as he awaits more relief food from the National government.
-Edited by SKanyara
