Walker Mwandoto
18 February 2008
Nairobi — More than 50,000 people are faced with starvation in Kilifi and parts of Kaloleni District.
The food deficit is attributed to the prolonged drought that has ravaged Ganze and Kaloleni constituencies as well as the rampant destruction of food crops by rampaging wild animals.
While calling for assistance, the Kilifi District Arid and Semi-Arid Lands officer, Mr Bethuel Wafula, said that the areas worst affected by famine included Ganze, Bamba and Vitengeni divisions in Ganze constituency and the northern parts of Tsangatsini in Mariakani division in Kaloleni constituency.
Disaster in making
Mr Wafula, who was speaking at the Kilifi District leaders meeting held at the Kilifi County Hall, described the food situation as a disaster in the making.
"The number of those affected by the food shortage may exceed 50,000 if the situation does not improve within the next one month," he warned.
The officer said that already, the District Disaster Management Committee had written to the Minister for Special Programmes, Dr Naomi Shaaban, asking her to send relief food for distribution to the affected areas.
He told the meeting that there was need to build dams in the semi-arid areas to harvest water during the rainy season.
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