- Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi welcomed the pledge, during a delegation meeting with the WFP country director Lauren Landis at his office in Kilimo House.
- The group lauded the government on the new food security policies that include new farming technologies and lowering of agriculture production cost.
Image: HANDOUT
Development partners have pledged to work with the government to address effects of climate change that has led to prolonged drought in the country.
They include the United States African Development Foundation, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has hailed the pledge made by the development partners to offer aid and support as the country faces acute food shortage due to four failed rain seasons.
Speaking after meeting a delegation of from WFP led by Country Director, Lauren Landis Linturi expressed optimism that the positive embrace from the partners will actualize Kenya’s plan to be a food secure country in the near future.
“WFP is a valuable partner to the Kenyan Government and my ministry will continue working closely with the humanitarian organization for the benefit of Kenyans especially in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands where there’s an acute shortage of food,” he said.
The delegation hailed new government policies on food security that include new farming technologies and lowering of agriculture production cost.
“We are happy with the mitigation measures that the government has pledged to prioritize agriculture activities that will guarantee Sustainable development on food security,” Landis said.
Linturi also held talks with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), Director of Program Operations for Africa Timothy Nzioka.
“I’m committed to working with development partners in a multi-stakeholder approach in order to find a long-term solution that will address the cyclic impacts of climate change that has severely affected parts of the country,” added Linturi.
Nzioka promised that the foundation will enhance relations with the Kenyan government to ensure all mitigation measures are implemented to combat drought in the country.
He said the foundation will also partner with the counties to offer mitigation measures to combat the prolonged drought.
“Our foundation is a key partner in the improvement of Kenya’s agricultural sector for the benefit of local farmers and we are determined to offer our help to save lives and livestock from the prolonged drought,” Nzioka stated.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya Henriette Geiger also pledged their plan to assist the country in combating the drought that has affected 24 counties especially in arid and semi-arid areas.
Linturi is scheduled to travel to Rome, Italy this weekend to attend the 171th session of FAO council on food crisis and responses in Kenya.
The current drought (2020 - 2022) has been the most severe and longest with widespread livelihood loses and massive displacement of populations.
Currently, more than 4.2 million people representing 24% of the ASAL population are facing high levels of acute food insecurity with about 2.7 million people in the Crisis phase and 785,000 people the Emergency state.
President William Ruto’s administration has already announced a new allocation of Sh2 billion for food relief to counties affected by the severe drought.
The Government is also collaborating with development partners and the private sector to raise an additional Sh 10 billion.
The National steering committee on drought response has also released payment details for Kenyans willing to donate cash to assist those affected by the ongoing drought.
Those willing to contribute to the appeal fund can use pay bill number 880990 and use their name as the account number.
The committee is chaired by Safaricom Chief Executive officer Peter Ndegwa and it also consists of CEOs of various leading private institutions including banks and Kenya Red Cross.