NAIROBI—More than 1.3 million Kenyans are facing famine following inadequate rainfall this year in most parts of the country, the government has said.
Majority of those affected live in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties, the government added.
The Devolution and National Planning Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri said there was a shortage of water in ASAL counties but the government was in the process of setting up intervention measures to mitigate the situation.
“There is a water shortage and increased risk of malnutrition,’’ Kiunjuri said while addressing the press at the Treasury building in Nairobi.
The government is collapsing the departmental service dealing with the famine under one roof. The ministry of Devolution, the National Treasury, Interior, Health, Education, Environment, Water and Agriculture would work under one command center for efficient service delivery.
“There was little coordination in the previous disasters leading to overlapping of functions,” the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Henry Rotich said.
The government expects the officials to make recommendations when they meet next week as well as determine the amount of money needed for the exercise.
There has also been reports of famine-related deaths, but the government denied the report.
“There is no report of any Kenyan who died of hunger,” Mr Kiunjuri said.
“We would like to assure all Kenyans that the government is on top of the situation and will ensure that the necessary help reaches the neediest on time,” he added.
The affected areas are Samburu, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit and Makueni. Others are Kilifi, Taita Taveta Tana River Kwale and Isiolo counties.
“Wajir County has not had an adequate rainfall this year (2016),” the governor of Wajir Ahmed Abdullahi said.
Mr Kiunjuri said his ministry would spend 3,500 90 kilograms bags of maize, 2700 50kgs bags of beans, 10,000 50kgs bags of rice and 1000 cartons of cooking oil.
The government has ear-marked sh 250 million for the intervention exercise and additional sh 54 million.
