Uasin Gishu county on Monday donated relief food to more than 5,000 families affected by drought and hunger in Turkana.
Governors Jeremiah Lomorukai (Turkana) and Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu) led the distribution of relief food in Kerio Delta ward in Turkana Central constituency.
The donations are under the Save a Life Initiative, a multi-sectoral drive by residents of Uasin Gishu county, to support families affected by the drought and hunger in Turkana.
The food distribution exercise was coordinated by the Kenya Red Cross Society who provided logistical support.
Lomorukai thanked the efforts of Uasin Gishu county to be the first devolved unit to donate food for the starving residents in Turkana.
“It’s true we have been ravaged by drought and hunger for the last three years, we thank our friends from Noreb [North Rift Economic Bloc] for food donation, including maize flour, cooking oil rice and other food items,” he said.
According to the Turkana county government, more than 800,000 people are in dire need of relief food.
Governor Bii said the donations were in response to calls by President William Ruto for well-wishers to support regions affected by the drought in the country.
"God has given us enough and we thought it wise to share with residents of Turkana. Our two counties have been partners and fall under the same bloc, Noreb," he said.
Bii said the distribution of food was support from residents of Uasin Gishu to ensure that residents of Turkana county do not hungry.
He emphasised the importance of counties in the North Rift to work together under Noreb to develop the entire region, including planting trees and taking other measures to combat climate change.
Uasin Gishu chamber of commerce chairman Willy Kenei, who is the chairperson of the Save a Life Initiative, expressed appreciation to residents of Uasin Gishu for providing the donations.
(edited by Amol Awuor)