More than 11,000 people in Bungoma need support after their homes and property were destroyed by floods.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the majority of those affected have been left homeless, and their crops swept away by floods; bridges have also been away.
“The government is well aware of the number of people affected by these floods and we are doing everything within our reach to help the affected families," he said in Bungoma on Saturday.
River Nzoia has burst its banks. The bridge over River Malakisi has been destroyed while parts of Mt Elgon, especially Cheptais and Chesikaki, have experienced landslides.
Eugene toured the region at the weekend and distributed food to displaced families.
In Mt Elgon constituency he gave out 500 sacks of maize and beans. He also visited affected families in Sirisia, Bumula and Kanduyi constituencies.
Eugene said the government will rebuild the victims' houses once the rain subsides.
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati flagged off the distribution of food aid to 500 households, among them 100 families with people living with disability.
The distribution, now in its third phase, targets 150 households in Bumula, 50 in Dorofu, 100 in Cheptais and 100 in Sirisia.
Also earmarked for food aid are 80 households displaced by floods in Sitikho ward, Webuye West subcounty, and 70 in Tamlega, Sirisia subcounty.
The national government has urged Kenyans to minimise movement and avoid crowded places to check the spread of Covid-19.
"As a result of some of the measures businesses and other sources of income have suffered a great deal, exposing our people to the real danger of starvation, especially if we do not get to the end of this pandemic soon," Wangamati said.
"As a government, we are working in collaboration with the Red Cross, the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the national government to provide food to vulnerable households."
In the first phase of the food distribution 500 households in Bungoma town, Webuye, Kimilili, Chwele and Kapsokwony in Mt Elgon receive 20kg of flour, 2kg of cooking oil, 2kg of rice, 2kg of sugar, one bar soap and one litre of sanitiser.
In the second phase supplies were sent to 500 households mostly affected by floods in Webuye, Tongaren and Bumula subcounties.
