Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has appealed for Sh23 million from development partners and well-wishers for humanitarian relief assistance to families displaced by raging rains in the area.
Mutula disclosed that over 200 households have been displaced by the raging rains that have pounded various parts across the county that has also resulted in destruction of 135 shelters and loss of 18 people.
Some of the items needed urgently include maize, rice and beans, non-food items like blankets, cement, mattresses, iron-sheets inclusive of sanitary provisions, medical and nutritional supplements.
“We are appealing for your support amounting approximately Sh23 million to facilitate the provision of listed relief items in a form and manner your organization deems appropriate, of this amount, the county government has already committed Sh10 million,” said Mutula in a letter read on his behalf by the Makueni County Drought Coordinator, National Management Drought Authority, Makueni County Drought Coordinator Alice Munyao during a County steering Group (CSG) meeting at a Hotel in Wote town on Tuesday.
The meeting that was attended by development partners and relevant departmental heads, was chaired by the deputy County Commissioner (DCC) George Lugo, who is Personal Assistant in the office of the County Commissioner.
“Regrettably, the ongoing March-April-May (MAM) rains have caused devastating impacts in several villages. To date, 200 households have been affected, with 135 shelters destroyed, and 18 lives lost due to flooding. The situation remains critical and as the season progresses, the risk of further displacement and humanitarian needs is high and urgent interventions needs to be taken,” warned the governor.
The areas that have been affected by floods include Mikululo and Mbitini whereas Mukaa and Kilungu Sub counties experienced mudslides. In Kilungu two children were killed on Saturday and houses destroyed.
It should be observed that humanitarian relief assistance is projected for the next two months, the period during which heavy rains are expected to pound the county.
On his part, Lugo said that the rains have caused a lot of havoc noting there was a need to put systems in place and ensure measures are taken to handle the situation in a coordinated manner.
In this regard, a Communication Centre was initiated to ensure all information going out for public consumption was accurate in an effort to minimize misinformation. Among the members include NDMA, Red Cross, Interior, Education and Director Special Programmes, Disaster Management and Emergency Services.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Anglican Development Services eastern (ADSE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Mutua said 11,217 hectares of land were planted with tree seedlings under Makueni Agroforestry Carbon Project (MACP) that was initiated in 2023.
However, Mutua disclosed that there have been challenges farmers faced especially the long dry spell that reduced the survival rate of trees to 38 percent during the period under review.
In this regard, he noted that they are going to provide water to the farmers involved in the project to ensure the seedlings planted survive so that farmers can reap benefits from the project as intended.
Under the project, 40,000 farmers are supposed to be linked and provided with certified tree seedlings including fruits, get trained in soil water conservation, in land preparation, tree planting and protection. The farmers are expected to have planted 5.6 million tree seedlings by 2043 when the programme will come to an end.
Reacting to the progress report, members expressed their concern over the survival rate of tree seedlings and emphasized the need to ensure they improved on the same by working closely with relevant departments in the both levels of government.
By Patrick Nyakundi
