President William Ruto has called for scale up of interventions to tackle the current drought situation in the country. The situation has been worsening as the November/December rainfall was below expectations.
He said the response must be urgent to avert “widespread distress and suffering” as the crisis is worsening.
He identified the priority areas as enhanced food assistance, cash transfers, health and nutrition interventions.
Other interventions, he went on, include sustained water supply, livestock feeds, school feeding programmes and peace and security initiatives.
The President was speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the launch of the 2022 Short Rains (October to December) Assessment Report.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries, Diplomats, the National Steering Committee on Drought Response and the private sector were present.
President Ruto said Sh6 billion has been set aside in the latest Supplementary Budget to respond to the drought between February and May.
The amount will be supplemented by the private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response that has so far raised Sh650 million.
However, this may not be enough. The President told the session that more than Sh15.35 billion is required for urgent life-saving interventions.
“We call on international partners, the private sector and well-wishers to help us bridge this resource gap that will help in building long-term resilience.”
He committed to the full accounting of every coin donated for humanitarian aid in the country.
To cushion the country against such a disaster in future, the Deputy President said the Government has adopted a long-term measure.
He said irrigation and the ongoing ecological restoration in the country will sustainably help rehabilitate the environment and reverse the effects of climate change.
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Ruto meets Africa’s Patriach of The Orthodox Church, describes church as a “development partner”
President William Ruto has commended the role of the Church in the development of the country.
The President said investments by faith organisations have helped thousands of Kenyans access quality education and health care services across the country.
The President was speaking when he met His Beatitude Pope Theodoros ll, The Greek Orthodox Patriach of Alexandria and All Africa who paid him a courtesy call at State House.
“Faith organisations including the Orthodox Church have gone beyond pastoral work and shown a commitment to development issues in Kenya and Africa that have made a real impact our country.”
Pope Theodoros said the Orthodox Church commits to more philanthropy in Kenya.
The Orthodox Church has 1.2 million members in Kenya and 400 clergy.
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