At Last Some Hungry Families Receive Relief Food

By Ronald Ngoba

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmil.com

Kilifi county has so far received relief food from various Donors, National government and well-wishers to distribute to residents in different areas currently faced by hunger and starvation.

Early in the week Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro accompanied Televangelist Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre oversaw food distribution exercise in different parts of the county amongst them being the most hit areas of Magarini, Kaloleni and Ganze.

New Life Prayer Center donated assorted food stuff worth more than Sh13 million.

Residents in drought-stricken areas of Kakoneni,  Girimacha, Chakama, Bofu, Mrima wa Ndege, Kavunzoni, Jilore and Adu in Kilifi County benefited from the relief food.

Speaking to residents of Kakoneni in Jilore ward, Mung’aro thanked Pastor Ezekiel for his swift move on the hunger situation when he contacted him for support.

“We have about 72,000 families facing starvation and if the situation is not controlled before December, the number might rise to 100,000. As a government, we are collaboratively working with the private sector, faith-based organizations, donors and stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate interventions and strategies for the ongoing drought and food crisis in our county,” he said.

Pastor Ezekiel said he was touched by the plight of Kilifi people especially children going without food for days forcing them to sleep in class due as the hunger bites even dipper.

“Following what we saw on a section of the Media about the suffering of the Kilifi people, I mobilized friends, and my worshippers that we should donate and give meals to our starving people in Kilifi. We have brought in 4,000 bales of maize flour, 1,000 cartons of cooking oil and 750 bags of beans. Apart from the word of God, people must eat to remain healthy. We shall continue to partner with the county government until the situation stabilizes,” said the Pastor.

The drought has brought in human-wildlife conflict where animals in search of forage have been coming to human settlements, threatening the lives of the community.

Residents claimed that the hunger situation had worsened after going for four consecutive years without rainfall.

“It’s real tough and we don’t know what the future holds for us. We are happy that we have received food from pastor Ezekiel and the governor but the situation needs even more interventions,” said Kitsao Kalu a resident of Bofu.

Julius Ngombo another resident called on the county government to address water scarcity in the region.

“Women bear the brunt of these challenges. they walk for more than 20 kilometres to look for water in Chakama. With only a single Jerrycan even bathing becomes a challenge and you can think what the women are going through,” said Ngombo.

With elephants roaming in the thickets, it has even become dangerous for children to go to school hence affecting their education.

Adu ward MCA Samson Zia thanked Pastor Ezekiel and the governor for the timely intervention but said that more relief food should be directed to his expansive ward.

“In this ward, we have more than 40,000 people facing starvation especially in Shakahola and Chakama region. So as we say thank you for this relief food, we are asking for more,” said Zia.

Kilifi is among the 26 counties currently facing acute drought and starvation of animal’s human beings.