Nairobi — Almost 30,000 people who rely on relief food in Isiolo District are starving as the District Steering Group differs on who should distribute the food.

Tonnes of relief food arrived at the local Cereals and Produce Board stores more than two weeks ago but has not been distributed due to the stalemate at the local DC's office over who between ActionAid Kenya and the Kenya Red-Cross should distribute it.

The DSG is charged by the Government with identifying recipients of the relief food and the agency to distribute it.

Last Monday the DSG chaired by the DC failed to agree on who between Action-Aid Kenya and the Kenya Red Cross Society should be the lead agency in relief food distribution.

Those attending the meeting, among them departmental heads, the World Food Programme (WFP), Islamic Foundation, the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the Catholic Church, objected to the proposal that the Red Cross take charge of the process.

They argued there was no need to change the distributor at a time when famine was at its peak in the district.

They further said ActionAid Kenya has a good working relationship with the beneficiaries of relief food since it had strong grassroots connections in the district.

Impasse

They said it had the capacity to rent warehouses and transport the food in the district.

The DSG resolved to hold another meeting next Wednesday to break the impasse.

Two months ago, the Government withdrew members of the Provincial Administration from relief food distribution and gave the responsibility to ActionAid Kenya.

Muslim clerics claim 120,000 people are threatened with hunger in Isiolo and Garbatulla districts.