Roba says too much red tape hampering drought relief

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has asked the state to reduce bureaucracy and ensure that aid quickly reaches drought-stricken residents.

Roba, whose county is among the ten worst hit by drought, said many are the times when government releases funds and other essentials to assist residents, but it never gets to the intended persons.

“Most of the time announcements are made by the government with assurances that people will be assisted.

"However, the same population waits for the aid that never reaches, as they continue loosing their animals and suffering,” Roba said.

The governor was speaking in Mandera Town on Monday.

Last Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought affecting parts of the country a national disaster.

Consequently, the President instructed the National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior to spearhead government efforts to assist affected households.

The assistance includes water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.

Roba who is also the FCDC chairman said the declaration by the President is critical to responding to the emergency with urgency.

The move will assist in recovery of the impacted arid and semi arid areas of Kenya.

“My humble appeal is that this time around let us do things differently. Cut all the bureaucracy and ensure that the little that comes from the national government gets to the intended persons in time.

"As for us, the county we will continue doing everything that is within our means to compliment the government's effort,” the governor said.

He said his administration has enhanced water trucking exercises in all subcounties noting that the biggest challenge has been the growing number of those in need.  

“Its is only God who will see us through this drought by opening the clouds.. as human beings we can only do much to help our people, especially bearing in mind the limited resources we have,” Roba said.

“On behalf of FCDC counties, we are immensely grateful for the call and we do no take it for granted. It will go a long way in getting needed support in the wake of tragedy,” he added.

Our people continue to be victims of climate change impacts. The drought was getting out of hand with pastoralists losing animals and families facing acute water and food shortage.

The situation was aggravated by three successive failed rain seasons and was compounded by dessert locust invasion which wiped out vegetation.

We thank the President for standing up for our people and request well wishers, local and international partners to help support our people with food rations, water trucking and livestock off take programmes.

Together we can cushion our people from suffering.

On Monday, the government said at least two million Kenyans from 10 counties have been affected by drought.

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa said the government with the help of other state and non-state actors are working to cushion the affected families.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)