Staff Mail
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The most affected area by drought is Kirimiri location in Kakuzi Division in Murang’a County. It borders Machakos District and has a population of 15,000 people, most of whom are squatters who survive by doing casual jobs in the neighboring Kakuzi plantations.
Faced by abject poverty, the people thrive on illegal businesses such as charcoal burning, making illicit brews, girl child prostitution and others. There is sand harvesting on the Machakos side. Since many of the females indulge in prostitution, there is a high HIV prevalence rate leading to dysfunctional families as well as many orphans and vulnerable children.
The area has not received adequate rainfall in the last five years.
Due to the effects of drought, many children have dropped out of school while men and women of productive age bracket have migrated to neighbouring urban centres such as Thika Town leaving the elderly to take care of the children. Many of the children are malnourished and mothers who deliver babies are more likely to die due to the prevailing hardship.
The few livestock that the people had such as goats and traditional cattle have died due to lack of grazing pastures and water.
The role of the church and the government in famine alleviation
In the last 3 months, the government distributed relief food to 200 aged people only. The beneficiaries received 5 kilograms of maize each. The said ration was insufficient and not appropriate to the aged, and consequently they are malnourished.
The government does not target other sectors of the society and the church on the ground lacks resources to address the drought and its effects.
Click to view photos on the drought situation in Kakuzi area
Compiled by NCCK (2 August 2011)
