Kenya: Only One Person Dead From Drought, Eric Kiraithe Says

Drought

The government on Thursday said it has recorded only one death due to drought despite revelations of at least seven people dying from the prolonged dry spell.

"We have only one confirmed death in Kilifi, and it is unfortunate. The government is committed to making sure that no one (else) dies from this drought," said government spokesman Eric Kiraithe during his weekly press briefings.

The government also warned chiefs and county officials that those found diverting Sh5.4 billion relief aid will be sacked and prosecuted.

Last week, Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye said at least seven people had died from the drought in Garissa.

On Monday, governors from the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) declared the drought a disaster requiring urgent intervention.

Mr Kiraithe said the government was on top of the drought situation, as it admitted that one person in Kilifi County had died from the prolonged dry spell.

The government also classified some parts of Kilifi County in an emergency state, saying other 12 counties were only in the "alarm and alert stages."

Mr Kiraithe said areas that have been classified as in the alarm stages are Garissa, Kwale, Lamu and Marsabit while "alert" level include: Kajiado, Laikipia, West Pokot, Isiolo, Makueni, Mandera, Meru (North), Narok, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Turkana and Wajir.

FOOD RESERVES

He said some unscrupulous individuals were taking advantage of the spell to enrich themselves at the expense of starving Kenyans.

"This relief if for families in need and any other person found benefitting will be prosecuted as a thief," he said.

So far, 1.5 million people have been affected by the drought that the government said might persist until August 2017.

"The Government has instituted these cross sectorial, multi-faceted interventions, to deal with the various faces and implications of this drought crisis. Moving forward, the government remains cognizant of the ever urgent need to meet short term needs while maintaining a long-term strategy," Mr Kiraithe said.

The government spokesman said though the food reserves in the country can only last for six months, any imports will only be authorised when the situation has been re-assessed.

He said the government will not stop private businesspeople from continuing to import maize from neighbouring countries.

He also dismissed as unfair claims that the government was dragging its feet in the fight against the drought.

Mr Kiraithe said the formation of the National Drought Management Agency was one of the many steps the government had taken as a long-term strategy to tackle future drought cases.

"The key problem in drought management is addressing water problems. We need to implement it, but we know it will not happen in a day," he said.

Of the Sh5.4 billion relief aid, Sh1.65 billion will be allocated to food relief, Sh713 million for provision of supplementary feeds for children under the age of five and provision of water, and Sh244 million for the purchase of drought tolerant seeds and the repositioning of strategic food reserve stocks.

Another Sh1.3 billion to buy livestock, Sh1.24 billion for drilling of boreholes and buying of plastic storage equipment, Sh115 million for enhancing security and Sh156 million for day secondary schools feeding programme.