According to DP Gachagua, the President will begin the exercise at Nakalale in Turkana County and continue later in the day at Baragoi in Samburu.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will preside over a similar event at the Bisil livestock market and Amboseli in Kajiado County as part of the nationwide launch. He will flag off hay and a variety of animal feed for wildlife at Manyata. Almost a quarter of the county’s population is threatened by hunger and starvation.
Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, wife of DP Rigathi Gachagua, and First Lady Rachel Ruto will distribute food in Nairobi’s informal settlements of Mukuru Kaiyaba in Embakasi and Kahawa Soweto in Kasarani.
Cabinet Secretaries Moses Kuria, Kipchumba Murkomen, Aden Duale, Alice Wahome, Salim Mvurya, Mithika Linturi, and Peninah Malonza will be on the same mission in Machakos, Kieni (Nyeri), Marsabit, Garissa, Habaswein (Wajir), Voi (Taita Taveta), (Mbeere) Embu, and Kitui, respectively.
On Friday, the DP met with representatives from the private sector and various government agencies to finalize plans for tomorrow’s food purchase and distribution.
Following the failure of four consecutive rainy seasons, 4.3 million people across the country are currently at risk, with 3.1 million in crisis and another 1.2 million in emergency.
“It’s absurd that we’re talking about food insecurity in the twenty-first century.” As a government, we will ensure that Kenya evolves and is no longer reliant on food donations. “We are committed to ensuring that Kenya can feed itself,” the Deputy President said after the meeting at his Harambee House Annex office.
Almost one million of those affected are children, with another 1.2 million pregnant or lactating women.
To alleviate hunger, the government will begin distributing food to the most vulnerable communities tomorrow, Saturday.
This drive will involve both the private and public sectors, with the goal of getting food and water to communities across the country that are most in need.
So far, the Kenya Private Sector Association (Kepsa), the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Kenya Red Cross Society have played a key role in the country’s response to the drought.
