Local leaders have asked the Devolution ministry to send relief food to parts of Mwingi North and Mwingi Central subcounties where a drought has left many at the brink of starvation.
The residents had urged the government to also introduce school feeding programmes to keep children in the learning institutions.
In most parts of the country, there was minimal rainfall and residents from Mwingi who depend on farming have been hardly hit by the drought.
A week ago, residents from Nguni ward in Mwingi Central subcounty said the elderly were at a high risk of losing their lives due to hunger and starvation.
"By looking around, you can see our area is very dry and we solely depend farming. The rainfall has been letting us down for two years," Muta Mwengi Mwingi said.
Helen Mwanthi from Tyaa Kamuthale in Mwingi North urged MPs to intervene and ensure a school feeding programme is introduced as soon as possible.
"If a school feeding programme is introduced, students will be able to concentrate as many have no food at home. Knowing there's food in school, there will be no drop outs due to famine or poverty," she said.
Mwanthi said climate change has made farming difficult. People now depend on education to eradicate poverty, saying school feeding programmes are essential.
Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi said the government should start food programmes in schools.
His counterpart from Mwingi North, Paul Nzengu said the February to April rainfall was inadequate and nothing was harvested.
"Even those who were lucky to harvest something now have nothing. I urge the government to immediately start school feeding programmes in primary and secondary schools.
Boosting education will help the county despite harsh times, he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
