With the drought still ravaging some parts of Kilifi County due to failed long rains, residents of Magarini sub-county in Kilifi County have appealed to the government and investors within the area to intervene and help provide relief food and water following the drought that has hit the area.
The residents said the persistent drought has made it difficult for them to access food leave alone water which was being sold at high costs.
Currently a jerrican of 20 litres of water they said cost between Sh20 to Sh50 and the majority who are poor could not afford it.
The residents spoke when one of the salt firm investors Kensalt company donated 400 bags of maize flour at Mtoroni area which was distributed by area Member of Parliament Michael Kingi.
Alice Zawadi a resident of Mtoroni in Kanagoni area near the border of Tanariver county said the investors should come together and ensure they support them during these difficult times.
Zawadi said the area has not received rains for the last two years leaving them to suffer from no food and water.
She urged the Government to also intervene and come up with a proper system of distributing the relief as it was not working properly unlike in the neighbouring county Tanariver where it distributed fairly.
“Kensalt investors have been in the forefront to providing relief food but they are the ones and only ones who have been supporting us, they have also been helping to pay fees for bright poor children,” he said.
He said locals normally depend on charcoal production which takes a long and it cost Sh. 200 while water jerricans cost Sh. 20.
Every day she said one spends about Sh. 500 which the majority cannot afford forcing women and children to stop bathing.
Eric Haro the Mtorono development chairman said locals spend only on farming maize cassava and green grams which failed due to the drought they have not been able to harvest anything.
he said their livestock have also died as a result of the disaster and now since it has rained a little bit they could be supported with seeds to try to plant.
“We urge the government o help us with more relief food because there is currently no food at all and people are suffering,” he said
Caleb Kamote the Human Resource Manager of Kensalt company said they managed to bring a small amount of food but will continue supporting them until the drought persists.
He said initially they began providing food to schools under the school feeding programs to help children remain in school.
“Even though we are the ones providing this relief food it is an initiative of the MP who approached us and asked us to support the people affected by drought,that’s why we are together here to help you,” he said.
On his part, the legislator said he approached all salt firms and even banks that are within the Constituency and they have promised to support the drought victims.
He said the food being disbursed by the county and the national government was not enough that’s why he normally approaches investors such as Ken salt and the other salt firms within the area for support.
Kingi said initially the salt company had relief food by they chose to take it to schools first before embarking on helping the larger community members.
“We thank Kensalt they brought 400 bags of flour and its because their supplier delayed but they were supposed to be 600 bags but I told them to bring the remaining bags to the locals if they are supplied,” he said.
Kingi also urged the salt firms to support the residents by providing water with their boozers at least each company to release a truck once weekly on a rotational basis.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
