At least 104,200 people in Makueni County need relief food following a depressed and poorly distributed rainfall in the area.
The most affected Sub Counties are Kibwezi West (29,902), Kibwezi East (28,280), Makueni (19,226), Mbooni (11,534), Kilome 11,248 and Kaiti (4,010) people respectively.
The findings are as a result of the Food and Nutrition Security Rapid Assessment (FNSRA) conducted by the technical committee comprising the Agriculture, Livestock, Water, Education, Health, and Meteorological Departments and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) early this week.
The report revealed that some areas will get a total crop failure, mostly the wards in the lowlands and the middle part of the county and other parts expect to achieve 50 percent of the harvest.
The report was read by the Drought Information Officer Justus Ikaal during a County Steering Committee (CSG) Meeting chaired by the Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr in his boardroom in Wote town on Friday.
Further, the committee approved the provision of relief seed to the affected farmers to enable them to prepare for the planting season of March, April and May (MAM) in 2026 besides promoting drought-resistant crops and water harvesting technologies to support irrigation agriculture.
The report of the finding also indicated there is a need to enhance agricultural extension and pest and disease control. Livestock will be fed with feed supplements, livestock offtake programmes, mass deworming and multivitamin boosters and vaccination against lumpy skin disease (LSD), beside other interventions.
In health, it was agreed to intensify malnutrition screening and conduct mass/integrated outreaches, provide relief food to already affected families and mobilise resources from government and partners to strengthen nutrition services and enhance multi-sectoral collaboration for nutrition-sensitive interventions.
On water, it was agreed that they enhance the last mile connectivity, extend water distribution networks, rehabilitate pumping systems and install solar panels at Kyakithuku and Muusini boreholes, construct and desilt dams and develop and enhance water storage and harvesting structures in the area.
In education, it was resolved to provide sanitary towels to 123,179 girls, upscale the school feeding programme to 699 underserved schools, prioritize food supplies to public schools to fill existing gaps, promote water harvesting in schools, and enhance kitchen gardening activities.
During the meeting, the members agreed on the immediate activation of the drought contingency plan such that all committees from the county and subcounty to the ward level be activated so that they can coordinate activities.
“I need all the coordination committees from the county to the ward level to be activated immediately. Activation of contingency plan, activate drought response task force and County Disaster Operation Centre,” said Mutula.
Already the national government has sent 300 and 260 bags of 50 kg maize and beans to each of the 10 Sub Counties in the area.
Present at the meeting were Deputy County Commissioner George Lugo in the office of the County Commissioner; County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Devolution Nicolas Nzioka; his counterparts for Education, Infrastructure, Finance and Environment, Japheth Mang’oka, Eng. Peter Mumo, Damaris Kavoi and Paul Musila; and partners NDMA County Coordinator Alice Munyao, among others.
By Patrick Nyakundi
