Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stated that cash transfer is the best approach to reach out to needy Kenyans as compared to distributing relief food.
The DP was speaking on Thursday, October 6 in a meeting with the UN ambassador and other stakeholders where he emphasised an urgent mapping strategy to combat the raging drought which has hit even regions outside Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS).
"The situation in the country is worrying, we need proper frameworks and structures to ensure Kenyans do not die out of hunger," Gachagua stated.
Gachagua also called for urgent measures to be enforced to reach out to those affected within sub-counties and ward levels across the country.
"Let us map the areas with urgent needs from sub-counties and ward levels within different counties," Gachagua advised.
He further hailed the development partners for their continued support noting that many of the counties currently affected by drought were not unprepared to handle the nationwide disaster.
Ministries and development partners, he added, ought to come up with the right statistics and figures to ensure only vulnerable citizens in society benefit.
"The situation in the country is worrying, we need proper frameworks and structures to ensure Kenyans do not die out of hunger," Gachagua stated in a statement sent by his office.
On the other hand, National Drought Management Authority CEO, Hared Adan, disclosed that they had established a harmonised way of identifying needy Kenyans.
The team also developed mechanisms with other stakeholders to address the drought menace in the country.
Currently, over 29 counties are affected by drought while more than 48 sub-counties are grappling with feeding hungry Kenyans.
Over 4.3 million Kenyans are facing starvation, a figure Ms Gemma Connell - the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), projects will soon hit 5 million.
Additionally, outgoing Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau said long-term measures were needed to curb the menace which is spreading to food basket counties.
Kamau said the current hunger situation was affecting sections within Nyeri, Murang'a, Nakuru, Meru and Embu counties.
"Let us go by sub-counties within counties so that we have a clear picture," Kamau stated.
