Safaricom gives out relief food in Garissa

Private foundations are partnering to distribute relief food for vulnerable households hit by drought in Balambala and Lagdera subcounties in Garissa.

Distribution of the relief food is a response to President William Ruto’s call for the private sector to help the government fight the drought that has left more 4.5 million Kenyans in need of food.

At least 372,000 people in Garissa have been affected by the drought and millions of their livestock have died. 

Speaking during the distribution in Balambala town, Safariom foundation chairman Joseph Ogutu said the food is meant for at least 2,000 households is not only from Safaricom foundation. It' also a collective effort from the private sector.

“The government saw a need to involve the private sector in helping Kenyans affected by drought and so we have come together to see they get enough food,” Ogutu said.

It has rained and Kenyans may harvest in the next two months but before then, as the private sector under the Kenya Private Sector Alliance in collaboration with the government ,we will make ensure no Kenyan sleeps hungry,” he added

Ogutu encouraged the community to come up with long-term solutions,especially in agriculture, to mitigate the effects of drought so  in thefuture, there would be no need for relief food.

The National Drought Management Authority CEO Col (Rtd) Hared Hassan said the authority is working around the clock to fight the drought declared a national disaster last year by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

NDMA is also doing the cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme to the most vulnerable households.

“The President has assured us no Kenyan should sleep without food and so he has formed a private sector committee to look for permanent short-term and long-term permanent solutions,"Hassan said.

“We cannot be doing the same thing every year and expect a different result,” he added.

Garissa county commissioner Boaz Cherutich said together with the county  they will continue to mobilise more resources so they can be prepared to handle future droughts. 

“The Kenya Red Cross has profiled the most vulnerable households in Garissa, now about 10,000. NDMA will start registering their details from Friday so by January they can start receiving the cash transfers from January."

(Edited by V. Graham)