Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday unveiled a 15-member National Steering Committee on Drought Response.
While launching the committee at Harambee House, Gachagua made a special appeal to all Kenyans and various stakeholders to rally behind the government’s efforts to cushion those affected by severe drought.
“We appeal to Kenyans of goodwill to contribute a percentage of their salaries to a Pay Bill Number we shall be publishing soon. Already, our men and women in the Kenya Defence Forces have offered to forego a day’s salary to contribute to the response kitty. The National Youth Service has also made their contribution,” pleaded the Deputy President.
“We appeal to Kenyans in food-surplus counties to make their contributions through the office of the Governors and the County Commissioners. The Governors and County Commissioners will work with the Taskforce we have unveiled today and will coordinate the transfer of the foods to the Kenyans suffering in the 23 ASALs and pockets of 9 other counties,” he beseeched.
Noting that there is an urgent need for solidarity, Gachagua said regardless of next year’s rainfall performance, recovery from a drought of the current magnitude will take years, with extremely high humanitarian needs set to persist and even increase next year.
On November 21, President William Ruto established the National Steering Committee on Drought Response which will, among other things, establish a private sector-led National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund and mobilize resources to alleviate the impact of the drought ravaging parts of the country.
The committee to be chaired by Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa is also expected to provide a framework for mobilization of additional resources following increased public interest in scaling up of drought response to meet the needs of Kenyans affected by drought.
Other members of the Committee that will serve for one year from the day of gazettement are Dr. James Mwangi (Equity Bank CEO), Nasim Devji (Diamond Trust Bank CEO), Shamaz Savani (African Banking Corporation Bank CEO), Paul Rushdie Russo (KCB CEO) and Rebecca Mbithi (Family Bank CEO). Others are Jane Karuku (East African Breweries CEO), Joshua Chepkwony (Jamii Telecommunication CEO), Crispin Acholla (CEO, British American Tobacco), Dr. Asha Mohammed (Secretary-General Kenya Red Cross), Edwins Mukabanah (CEO, Kenya Bus Services Management), Patricia Mugambi Ndegwa (Impact Philanthropy Africa), Krishma Jitesh Chavda (ISHA Foundation) and Lt. Col. Hared Hassan (National Drought Management Authority).
The Committee Secretary is Murimi Murage from the Office of the Deputy President.
Present during the inauguration of the committee were Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Water), Peninah Malonza (Tourism and Wildlife), and Rebecca Miano (EAC and ASALs).
