Counties Facing Hunger In Kenya And How To Help

By Jane Muia / Published April 25, 2022 | 12:09 pm

KEY POINTS

At least 3.5 million Kenyans are in desperate need of food assistance following a severe drought witnessed in the country in recent years.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Safaricom in partnership with KCB Foundation, Naivas, Ernst & Young, Royal Media Services, Nation Media Group, Media Max, The Standard Group, Radio Africa Group, the M-Pesa Foundation, and the Safaricom Foundation has come together to provide relief food to 23 Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties.

A new report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) shows that at least 3.5 million Kenyans are in desperate need of food assistance following a severe drought witnessed in the country in recent years.

In January, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a food and nutrition security assessment which found that more than 600,000 children are acutely malnourished.

The food and nutrition insecurity was attributed to several factors, including the December short rains, the high cost of staple food and low livestock prices, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the effects of conflict and insecurity in northern Kenya.

The hunger issue has been mostly reported in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Turkana county. This is due to a lack of adequate resources to afford goods and services, for the residents to buffer themselves and recover from the worst of the changing climate effects which have subjected the county to a severe drought.

Counties reported being at hunger risk as a result of drought include:

Turkana
Baringo
Isiolo
Mandera
Marsabit
Samburu
Wajir
Kilifi
Lamu
Nyeri
West Pokot
Laikipia
Garissa
Makueni
Taita Taveta
Tana River
Embu
Kajiado
Narok
Meru
Tharaka Nithi
Kitui
Kwale

Many people living in these areas rely heavily on crops as a source of nutrition and livelihood, and the droughts have resulted in below-average crop production.

Similarly, millions of Kenyans from the aforementioned counties are unemployed or underpaid, making them unable to buy enough food for their families.

Despite all of this, the issue of hunger in Kenya has generally improved over the past decades. Further, many organizations continue to battle this crisis and expand food access to the millions of struggling Kenyans.

The partnership, through the Pamoja Tuungane Initiative, calls on the public to join and donate cash or Bonga points towards achieving the goal.

Here is how you can donate your contribution either through cash or Bonga points:

To donate through Bonga Points;

Dial *126# and select “Bonga for Food” where you can donate your Bonga Points
You will then have the option to put any Bonga point amount or the specified Bonga points
Once you have chosen your preferred option, you will be asked to input your Service PIN to complete the transaction.

For Cash donations, use PayBill 444777, regardless of your network.