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Uhuru: Enough being done to tackle drought

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 3 -The government has reiterated its commitment to finding a lasting solution to drought related challenges affecting parts of the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said on Wednesday that the government had made adequate provisions in the current budget to ease the effects of drought.

“While we recognise that our current efforts will not bear fruits immediately, there is need to seize the opportunity to remain focused on breaking the cycle of food insecurity by zealously implementing the programs we have started in this financial year,” Mr Kenyatta who is also the Finance Minister said in a statement.

He pointed out that the government had implemented various strategic interventions especially in the areas of irrigation under Economic Stimulus Program, expanded budget for dams, pans, boreholes and water harvesting as well as enhanced food relief and drought mitigation initiatives.

“However the scale of disaster associated with worsening drought has increased and we recognise that more resources are now required to mitigate its effects on the lives of our fellow Kenyans,” he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the government had taken a “bold step” to respond to the current drought related challenges while at the same time initiating medium to long term measures through countrywide irrigation to transform the country to a net exporter of food.

About Sh14.4billion was set aside in the current budget for strategic interventions to deal with drought.

An estimated 3.5million Kenyans are affected by drought afflicting parts of the country especially in the arid region of North Eastern.

This has led to a nationwide outcry with the government being accused of failing to cushion its people against the effects of drought.

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The situation has been worsened by an influx of immigrants from Somalia also fleeing drought in their country.

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