Residents living in Metropolitan areas have equally been affected by drought, former Mavoko MP aspirant Anthony Ngunga has said.
Ngunga said residents in Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado are starving.
He said the situation is worse in Mlolongo and Kitengela since residents rely on employment, though the majority are jobless due to hard economic times.
“I congratulate Kenyans for celebrating Mashujaa day. Everybody is a hero and we must celebrate our heroism,” Ngunga said.
He spoke during the 59th Mashujaa day celebration in Mlolongo, Machakos on Thursday.
He said the country had progressed well among her peers in the continent and across the world.
“We have lots of problems in this country especially now that we are facing extreme starvation. The worst hit are people in Mavoko and Syokimau. We rely on money and food from our villages,” Ngunga said.
The former aspirant said people were starving, and children are not going to school due to lack of fees and food.
He said there were no menial jobs.
“We urge the national and county governemnt to intervene and make sure those facing starvation get relief food,” Ngunga said.
He said leaders could no longer hide the fact that people were starving in the entire country.
Ngunga said the main source of medicine and human immunity was food.
Mlolongo assistant county commissioner Dennis Ongaga said his office had profiled all households affected by starvation.
“There are incidences of hunger. Drought has also led to the deaths of livestock. We have forwarded the victims’ names to our bosses for consideration when relief food comes,” Ongaga said.
He warned parents against keeping their children at home instead of taking them to school.
Ongaga urged parents, leaders, and stakeholders to help ensure 100 per cent return to school.
“If you know as a parent that you haven’t taken your child to school, or you know a child who hasn’t gone to school, report to relevant authorities for necessary action,” Ongaga said.
He said they were committed to ending cases of illicit brew, drug and substance abuse alongside suppressing cases of insecurity and lawlessness.
“We have issues of increasing drug and substance abuse, together with illicit brew. If you know where such dens are, report to the security apparatus for action,” Ongaga said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
