Kibaki appeals for more food

President Kibaki has renewed his appeal for food assistance to prevent deaths from hunger.

Due to the failure of the long rains in most parts of the country, it had not been possible to realise expected produce, said the President.

"We are appealing to all Kenyans of goodwill and our friends to assist those affected by this natural calamity in anyway possible. We shall appreciate any assistance given regardless of quantity," he said yesterday at State House, Nairobi, when he received Sh5.8 million worth of donations from companies and Energy ministry parastatals.

He described the famine was a national challenge, noting that despite the hard work by farmers, nature had conspired to deny the country a bumper harvest.

However, the President encouraged all to continue working hard everywhere, saying the country could only prosper through commitment to more production of goods and services.

"We want to be a nation committed to hard work to provide for both our families and the country, for it is only through such commitment that we can achieve our goals," he added.

The country had been doing well lately and most Government parastatals and companies were making profits, he said.

"Your companies are doing reasonably well, judging from their productivity, but to continue with that streak we must do what is required of us."

Donations came from Kenya Power and Lighting Company, (Sh1.6 million) and KenGen, Kenya Pipeline, National Oil Corporation and the Electricity Regulatory Board (Sh1 million each). The Kenya Oil Refineries gave Sh200,000. Present were Energy minister Simon Nyachae, Special Programmes minister Njenga Karume and assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri.

Meanwhile, the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission donated food to the Save-a-Life fund.

The donations were presented to Mr Karume by the review chairperson, Ms Abida Ali-Aroni, at the Nairobi offices of the Red Cross Society.

They included 493 bales of maize flour, 23 bags of beans and 22 cartons of cooking oil.

Ms Ali-Aroni said their gesture was in line with views enshrined in the draft constitution on food security concerns, which emphasise on traditional ways of fighting hunger, where those with a surplus felt obliged to share with the needy.

The donations are a huge boost to the campaign against hunger and will be distributed from tomorrow.

The first phase of the distribution in parts of Coast and Eastern provinces was hampered by shortages in cooking oil and fat.

But following continuous donations to the fund, the society officials said they had food enough for more than 2,000 people.

Some 30,870 bags of maize, 36 705 of maize flour, 7,092 of beans, 2,688 bags of powder milk and 1,817 litres of cooking oil are in the stores.

Elsewhere, Kenyans living in Britain are planning to raise Sh800 million for famine victims.

Coming together under the Community Advancement Programme, the fundraiser will be held at the Royal National Hotel, London, on August 14, said coordinator Nish Matenjwa.

The proceeds will be channelled through the Save-a Life fund.

"Unicef has said that an estimated 3.3 million Kenyans do not have food or water. The effects of food insecurity are worse for the most vulnerable who are children and women, " Ms Matenjwa told the Nation on the telephone.

More than 10 per cent of the country's population in five provinces is faced with famine.

Meanwhile, the release of the official document detailing famine appeal requirements has been postponed again.

Mr Ibrahim Maalim, of the famine relief fund, explained that the delay for the release, earlier set for Friday, was because the document was incomplete.

Source: Daily Nation
Publication Date: 8/3/2004
Story by ZEDDY SAMBU and PPS