Nairobi, KENYA: The government will import food as a measure of famine mitigation if the drought being experienced currently persists.
In a media briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, led by different Cabinet Secretaries, the government said that following the decision to form a multi agency team which will oversee the depth of the drought in the country ,the government might opt to import food from outside in bid to fight hunger if drought persists.
“The government has constituted a multi agency team considering team consisting of government ,UN agencies, NGOS and private sector players.the team is currently conducting a comprehensive drought and food security assessment.”Bett said.
The briefing was attended by Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries CS Willy Bett,Treasury CS Henry Rotich, Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Water and Irrigation CS Eugene Wamalwa.
Bett said that the government will release Sh. 1.6 billion to the water sector to address increasing needs of humans, livestock and wildlife .
He said that the government will upscale cash transfer of sh. 285.6 million valued at sh. 2700 per house hold to help them buy food.
Treasury CS Henry Rotich warned that if drought severity continues for the next two quarters of this year, it will adversely affect the economy.
He indicated that the government will use close to sh. 9 billion in curbing the calamity.
