DP Gachagua announced the debut of the government’s pay bill number at the opening of the Drought Response Committee for Kenyans to help Fight against famine.
There has been a mobilization of Ksh 57.8 billion towards addressing the ongoing drought that has affected 4.3 million Kenyans in the affected 23 counties in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas.
The deputy president was speaking during the inauguration of the 15-member National Steering Committee on Drought Response formed by President William Ruto early this week.
“This team’s efforts will, therefore, be only as good as our willingness to lend a helping hand. Now, more than ever, we need to rekindle our spirit of Harambee and be our brother’s and sister’s keepers,” He said
“We already have several initiatives set in motion. On Monday, I joined the UN Family in Maalimin, Garissa County, for the launch of a Flash Appeal for USD472.6 million to support 4.3 million drought-affected Kenyans in 23 ASALs counties out of an estimated 6.4 million people projected to require humanitarian assistance across the country.” He added
The administration has attributed the present food issue, in addition to the lack of rain, the two-year Covid-19 pandemic, which caused the economy to contract, the invasion of the desert locust last year, which damaged crops in farms, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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The drought response committee will be headed by the Safaricom CEO to make the private sector-driven mitigation.
The pay bill fundraising will imitate the Kenyans for Kenya initiative that was there in July 2011 that was started by corporate leaders and the Kenya ref cross in response to the famine that was in Turkana.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa also asked Kenyans to contribute in form of Bonga Points to drought relief.
