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Kilifi, December 30 , 2005

President Mwai Kibaki and First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki help in distribution of relief food stuff after flagging off the Relief Food Convoy at Bamba Primary School, Ganze Consititiency, Kilifi District.

Government working to cushion effects of drought

President Mwai Kibaki today said the Government was working hard to ensure Kenyans do not suffer as a result of the famine that has affected parts of the country.

Addressing wananchi at Bamba Primary School in Ganze constituency, President Kibaki said the Government was fully involved and had stepped up relief interventions to alleviate the suffering of wananchi in the drought-stricken areas.

“The Government cares for the welfare of all Kenyans and will not allow wananchi to suffer as a result of famine while other parts of the country had surplus food,” the President said.

The President, who flagged off a convoy to distribute relief food in the constituency, said the Government would buy food from areas that had good harvest and distribute it as relief food in the affected areas.

President Kibaki, who once again interrupted his holiday to visit areas affected by drought to assess the famine situation, reassured wananchi that the Government will continue providing relief food and water until the situation improves.

He stressed that the Government will move with speed to ensure the drought-prone areas including Ganze constituency are supplied with piped water.

The President, therefore, urged wananchi to support Government initiated water projects in their areas to ensure the projects succeed.

On education, President Kibaki said the Government will do everything within its powers to ensure education is not disrupted by food and water scarcity.

“Food and water will be provided so that no child will miss school because of lack of these essential commodities,” President Kibaki said.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to providing education to all children in the country, the President said parents should also ensure that their children are not denied the opportunity to acquire education.

Speaking during the occasion Special Programmes Minister John Munyes outlined what his ministry has been doing to cushion the effects of drought in the area.

He said so far the Government has distributed 65,000 bags of maize, 24,000 bags of beans, 25,000 cartons of cooking fat and 26,000 cartons of powdered milk in the affected areas in Coast Province.

The Minister further disclosed that the Government has set aside over 20 million shillings to be used for supplying piped water in Ganze constituency starting January next year.

Assistant Minister Joseph Kingi, who is also the area member of parliament thanked the President for being mindful of Kenyans’ welfare, noting that the President had interrupted his holiday to visit his constituency and see the Government’s effort to address the effects of drought in the area.

Present were First Lady Lucy Kibaki, Ministers John Michuki, Chirau Ali mwakwere and Suleiman Shakombo, Assistant Ministers and senior Government officials including Coast PC Cyrus Maina among others.