Gov’t ready to tackle looming food shortage- CS Kiunjuri

Devolution and National Planning Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kinjuri has assured Kenyans that the Government is doing its best to avert a food crisis, even as the country prepares itself to deal with an impending drought.

The CS said that the Government has been providing relief food to about fifteen Counties in the last three months, adding that the feeding program has been extended in the arid and semi-arid counties.

Kiunjuri said that, for the past few months, the Government has concentrated its food supply and efforts to Kwale and Kilifi Counties. Other counties set to receive the food aid include Garissa, Samburu, Wajir, Madera, Laikipia, Isiolo, Turkana among others. Already, the CS said government lorries were headed to Mandera and Wajir with food aid.

While speaking to the press in Nyahururu town, Kiunjuri added that over Ksh.358 million has been set aside to assist those likely to go hungry in the next three months as the government gets ready for the looming La Nina season.

The CS added that the government has enough maize in its strategic reserves, adding his Ministry did not need to import maize to meet the demand. He credited this to the Government’s irrigation efforts, saying that the increased production would help those in drought affected regions.

Kiunjuru stated that the government was working closely with small holder farmers to boost food production, saying: “Smallholder farmers produce over 60 per cent of our food crops and that is why the government is fully committed to make sure the Kenya Cereals Enhancement Programme and Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Window is successful.”

The CS said the programme is in line with the government’s top priorities of improving food security and commercializing agriculture.