RUNDOWN
• The Cabinet has given Sh17 million, its entire salary for November, to the drought relief fund.
• National Steering Committee on Drought Response was launched just a week ago and has already received more than Sh590 million.
• The committee is also looking at alternative ways to address the drought situation in the country.
The Cabinet has unanimously agreed to give its one-month salary to the drought relief kitty. This came during its 3rd session held on November 29 when it was appraised of the drought situation in many parts of the country.
Through a letter sent to the Secretary of the National Steering Committee on Drought Response Murimi Murage, the Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau confirmed that more than Sh17 million had been transferred to the response kitty to help the drought-stricken areas in the country.
“A sum total of seventeen million, three hundred and forty-eight thousand, six hundred and fifty-six shillings, being the sum total of collective contribution of all members of the Cabinet, is being processed and will be wired to the National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund in due course,” reads the letter dated December 5.
The National Steering Committee on Drought Response was launched just a week ago and has already received more than Sh590 million. The aim of the committee is to appeal for donations to help end hunger in the hardest hit regions in the country.
Kenya needs at least Sh17 billion between now and January in order to curb hunger across the affected regions.
The President, via a Special Gazette Notice released on 21st November, constituted the 15-member committee which then launched a nationwide appeal, Wakenya Tulindane, to Kenyans to make donations in cash or kind to help those on the brink of starvation in at least 21 counties severely affected by prolonged drought.
The appeal is to cushion more than four million Kenyans who are in dire need of food due to failed rainfall over the last four years with fears of a similar pattern extending to next year.
Those wishing to donate to the appeal fund can do so via M-pesa PayBill 880990 using their name as the account number or via the National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund under KCB Bank, Riverside branch through account number 1305486137. The PayBill is also available to Airtel Money and Telkom’s T-Kash subscribers.
The committee is also looking at alternative ways to address the drought situation in the country with the National Drought Management Authority stating that it costs up to Sh6,000 to feed a family for one month.
By Irene Mutu
