General

Kenyan president declares drought a national disaster

February 10, 2017


The President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta has on Friday declared the current drought that is affecting the country as a national disaster.

President Kenyatta subsequently on Friday, February 10, called on all relevant ministries and authorities to scale up their drought-mitigation programmes. The president, who was speaking after a briefing with Cabinet Secretaries at State House in Nairobi, said the current drought affecting 23 arid and semi-arid counties had affected humans, livestock and wildlife as well.

“Support from our partners would complement government efforts in mitigating the effects of drought,” said Kenyatta.

The president also warned distributors of relief food that they would be punished if they’re found taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves, saying this would amount to fraud, which is punishable under the law.

The National Treasury of Kenya has proposed the creation of a special fund to hold all money intended to mitigate the effects of drought, whether from government or donors. Where an initial US$19,154,929 an equivalent of Kenya Shillings2 billion has already been set aside for the National Drought Emergency Fund, with the National Treasury saying a similar amount will be available in the Budget every year.

The new plan, which comes in the midst of a biting drought, aims to create a structured response to famine and reduce wastage of funds.

The Nation writes that, at least two million Kenyans from 13 counties are currently facing severe food shortages as effects of drought continue to ravage Kenya. Animals, too, are dying and at least two people from Turkana this week committed suicide after losing all their animals to drought. The rains currently being witnessed across the country have brought some relief but the weatherman has told farmers not to celebrate just yet.