GOVERNMENT has announced that drought-stricken families in various parts of Kenya will benefit from a new money transfer system.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday at the Serena Hotel, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs & Special Programmes Prof. Margaret Kobia said that since October the government has allocated 1.2 million shillings already set aside to help the families.
The money is aimed at approximately 369,000 vulnerable families and more than 734,119 vulnerable people in the affected counties.
“As a way of dealing with this scourge, the government and other drought relief agencies will ensure that every family receives 3,000 shillings a month, a move that will ensure that every affected citizen is provided with food and other basic necessities to sustain their lives,” she said.
She also mentioned that in a report held today by development partners, they agreed to support the government’s efforts to mobilize resources to address the drought in the affected areas.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought as a national catastrophe on September 8, 2021 and directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Coordination to continue Government efforts to help affected families including water and food aid as well as livestock.
“As part of the response to this national catastrophe, the government and many agencies’ response has put in place various strategies to ensure that citizens from affected counties are provided with food and other necessities as soon as possible to sustain their lives,” said Ms Kobia.
Central Government Provided Ksh 450 million to Kenya Defense Forces for livestock procurement and grazing.
The forecast shows that there will generally be unusual rainfall in arid areas and less rainfall will be observed in northeastern Kenya since October and December 2021.
As the government is committed to ensuring that all measures are taken to ensure that drought problems are resolved in the country, I would like to thank all stakeholders including development partners.
“I assure the country, that the government is taking seriously the right direction to win the war on the effects of the drought,” he added.
