Cabinet gives Sh17 million November salary to drought relief kitty

Kenya needs at least Sh17 billion between now and January for mitigation measures across the affected regions.

On November 21, the President, via a Special Gazette Notice, constituted the 15-member committee which then launched a nationwide appeal, Wakenya Tulindane, to Kenyans to make donations in cash or kind to help those on the brink of starvation in at least 21 counties severely affected by prolonged drought.

The appeal is to cushion more than four million Kenyans who are in dire need of food following a severe drought that has hit close to half of the counties. The drought has been occasioned by failed rainfall over the last four years with fears of a similar pattern extending to next year.

Those wishing to donate to the appeal fund can do so via M-pesa PayBill 880990 using their name as the account number or via the National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund under KCB Bank, Riverside branch through account number 1305486137. The PayBill is also available to Airtel Money and Telkom's T-Kash subscribers.

The committee is also looking at alternative ways to address the current emergency situation with the National Drought Management Authority stating that it costs up to Sh6,000 to feed a family for one month.