The calamitous drought in Samburu county has forced learners to drop out of school.
President William Ruto on Tuesday promised to mobilise massive resources to mitigate drought, and feed the hungry.
But American girl Sabrina Guo, 17, has raised funds through sale of T-shirts to buy foodstuffs for Remot and Sukuroi villages. She works through her Girl Pride Initiative.
It's a drop in the ocean but a big help to the families.
Parents have been forced to travel long distances in search of pasture and water for their livestock, leaving schoolchildren with elderly grandparents. They too have no food.
Girls are most affected as they must care for younger siblings.
Remot Primary School in Samburu East constituency is one of the schools worst affected by the drought. For three years, rainfall has been inadequate.
“We had 192 learners but because of lack of food, the number dropped to 130 within the last few months,” headteacher Joseph Lolpranoi said.
Boniface Nakori, Girl Pride programme officer in Kenya, said their 'Fight Hunger for Education' programme distributes food in Samburu East. It goes to at least 1,500 households in Remot and Sukuroi villages in Wamba West division, Samburu East.
They get maize flour, beans, cooking fat and salt.
The initiative will help left behind children get food and consequently stay in school.
Speaking at the school while distributing food, Nakori said learners will now eat in school during the day and will also have food at home in the evening.
“Some school-going children have been left under the care of elderly grandparents or other relatives who also do not have food," he said.
“Young girls left at home to cater for siblings are at higher risk of early pregnancy and being married off at a very young age."
Nakori and Lolpranoi urged the government and well-wishers to move in address the drought problem.
More learners in the region are at risk of dropping out of school due to hunger during the drought.
Residents Nitas Lendosop and Esther Lesiyian of Remot and Sukuroi praised the food distribution.
They said it will keep them going for the next few months and children can go back to school and have food.
(Edited by V. Graham)
