Ruto flags off relief food to 23 counties

President William Ruto flagging off relief food at State House, Nairobi. [Twitter]

President William Ruto Monday flagged off relief food to famine-stricken families and livestock in various parts of the country.

Speaking during the flagging off at State House Nairobi, Ruto said the relief food will benefit 3.5 million Kenyans affected by the drought that has ravaged 23 counties across the country.

To ensure that the targeted families benefit from the 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 bags of beans, cooking oil and assorted animal feed and water bowsers will be distributed by military trucks to the affected counties.

"To ensure transparency, the relief food from both the national government and development partners will not only be distributed by the county commissioners as has been the case before. It will be a joint effort that will involve various stakeholders including the donors," Ruto said.

The President also promised to dispatch the next relief food this Friday, September 30 after assessing the situation on the ground adding that he will be holding a weekly meeting to review the challenges faced and way forward in managing the drought situation.

"I would also like to commend our development partners for their generous donations. We will be meeting with them again this Wednesday where we will assess the situation of the drought also plan ahead to avoid duplication of roles," Ruto added.

Earlier on, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had met governors from the drought-stricken counties in a meeting that was also attended by the chairperson of the Council of Governors who is also the Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.

Among those present at the event held at State House included National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, his Public Service counterpart Margaret Kobia, governors from counties in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and donors from Safaricom, USAID among others.