Greenhouses to be set up in schools

By Rawlings Otieno

Schools in arid and semi arid areas will benefit from a greenhouse project to boost food security.

This will be done through donations made by Kenyans for Kenyans initiative launched by Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and other corporate organisations.

Speaking on Thursday after receiving teachers’ donation of Sh13.7 million KRCS Secretary General Abbas Gullet said part of the money would be used to construct green houses to produce food in arid and semi-arid areas.

"The money donated by well wishers, will be used for sustainable development in addressing drought, so that those areas do not depend on rain fed agriculture," said Mr Gullet.

Kenya National Union of Teachers contributed Sh8.2 million Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Sh4.4 million, and Kenya Union for Post Primary Education Teachers Sh1 million.

TSC and the unions requested that part of the money be used to establish greenhouses.

The commission Chairman Ibrahim Hussein said a Taskforce has already been formed to address education disparity in arid and urban areas.

"The teachers have also made a contribution as a fraternity. We are in solidarity with the suffering Kenyans," said Mr Hussein.

And efforts by KRCS to transport relief food to drought stricken areas got a major boost following donation of a special truck by the Italian government.

Italian Ambassador to Kenya, Paola Imperiale, said the special Icarus truck will be used to transport food, drugs and other high priority items to Lake Turkana region that is still experiencing drought.

Health relief

"The vehicle will be used by the Italian Red Cross team currently working in this very arid region bordering Sudan, whose access is difficult owing to the lack of good roads. In these conditions, the Icarus truck is the most suitable type of vehicle for the transport of passengers and goods," said Mr Imperiale.

The envoy was speaking when he commissioned the truck at the KRCS headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday.

Gullet thanked Italy for the donation and relief support and announced that a biannual plan for health relief in areas hit by famine, will be implemented in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross.

"The humanitarian situation in Turkana District is very serious, though sometimes ignored. This is a major boost towards transporting the relief food," he said.