Kenya Red Cross secretary-general Dr Asha Mohammed has welcomed the move taken by President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare drought a national disaster.
In a statement on Thursday, Asha said that the support to Uhuru’s declaration is based on their own assessment which indicates that unless urgent multi-sectoral interventions are implemented, millions of Kenyans are at risk of starvation.
She said that the number of people affected by drought has risen from 1.4 million in March to over two million and that the number could hit three million people by December.
On Monday, the government said at least two million Kenyans from 10 counties have been affected by drought.
The secretary-general also said that the number of counties affected might reach 23 by 2022 from the current 12 counties if measures are not taken.
In his declaration on Wednesday, Uhuru instructed the National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior to spearhead government efforts to assist affected households, including water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.
State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said the decision came after a meeting between the Head of State and 85 leaders from Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, led by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.
Asha has also urged the government to mobilise resources to the affected communities.
“As a humanitarian organisation, we will continue to put our community first, and even as more resources come in from our partners, we intend to go above and beyond the food distribution.”
Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa said the government with the help of other state and non-state actors is working to cushion the affected families.
There have been calls by Northern Kenya leaders asking the president to declare the drought that is currently ravaging the region a national disaster.
Edited by CM
