WFP to offer Sh7bn relief to hungry families in 10 counties

The World Food Programme has committed Sh7 billion as relief assistance to at least 940,300 people facing famine in 10 counties.

Country director Lauren Landis said food and cash will be distributed under the Lisha Jamii Phase II programme between April and September.

“The second phase is [worth] Sh7 billion and we hope to make it Sh10 billion. This is substantial, but we still need more,” she said.

Landis spoke when she met Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Harambee House Annex on Wednesday.

At least 89,000 households received relief support in WFP Phase I. The second phase will rope in 157,500 households.

Beneficiaries are identified through the national government administrative authorities and county governments.

Under Phase II, identified households in Baringo, Isiolo, Kitui and Tana River counties will receive Sh11,200 per month.

Some 64kg of food items per household will be distributed in Turkana Samburu and Marsabit per month.

In Wajir, Garissa and Mandera beneficiaries will receive Sh5,600 and 34.5kg of food per month.

Landis said the ongoing nutrition programme for children and lactating mothers will continue.

Gachagua thanked the United Nations agency for being a longstanding partner.

He said the Office of the Deputy President and the County Coordinating Committee are working with other partners to save lives and livelihoods.

“We have missed five consecutive rain seasons. This is the longest drought in 40 years. We have over 5.3 million Kenyans facing starvation; we have lost 2.5 million [head] of livestock; thousands of children are malnourished; it is that bad. Thank you for committing to mobilise more resources and working with the county coordinating teams,” Gachagua said.

The Deputy President called for more partnerships in the supply of water, livestock feed and nutrition rations for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as dialogue and peace-building in conflict areas.

A return of the WFP school feeding programme, which ended in 2017, was discussed as the country works on long-term solutions to food insecurity.

The Deputy President was joined by Rebecca Miano, the Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, her Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu, Education PS Belio Kipsang and Chief of Staff at the Office of the Deputy President George MacGoye, among others.

During the meeting, WFP announced that 25 tonnes of wheat and 16 tonnes of sorghum will arrive at the Port of Mombasa next week.

Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya