CS Rebecca Miano wants Ksh.14B set aside for relief programmes

The government wants to set aside Ksh.14 billion in the 2023-24 financial year to cater to relief supplies for vulnerable Kenyans.

Speaking during a Senate plenary on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Rebecca Miano warned that Kenya is not yet out of the red due to prevailing drought and food shortages in most parts of the country.

She added that the government has been supporting close to 1 million people in 23 arid and semi-arid counties and other counties affected by drought.

While responding to Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute,  Miano said her Ministry had requested for additional funds to support relief initiatives further stating that the state allocated Ksh. 5.2 billion to the cause.

Chute had asked Miano to provide a list of ongoing relief food distribution programmes across the country further telling the CS to indicate the types and quantity of food products being handed out.

According to Miano, of the 989,120 food-insecure households, each received a 22 kilogram food hamper with 3kg porridge flour, 6kg maize flour, 8kg rice, 3kg beans, 1kg cooking fat and 1kg table salt.

CS Miano attributed the high number of affected Kenyans to drought which caused severe food shortage and wiped out livestock worth billions of shillings.

“The government stepped in to avert a possible disproportionate humanitarian crisis by reaching out to affected populations, the majority of them in arid and semi-arid lands,” said Miano.

The Marsabit lawmaker also wanted to know the suppliers of relief food under the programmes from 2017 to date.