KENYA: As Drought Takes Toll on People’s Livelihoods, Bishops in Kenya Call for Urgent and Decisive Action
Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The drought situation in Kenya that has been continuously increasing especially in the arid and semi-arid regions “has now reached a crisis level,” Catholic Bishops have said calling for immediate attention for people to support those in drought-hit areas.
“The consequent famine is regrettable and unacceptable. This calls for urgent and decisive action from all actors,” reads part of the bishop’s press release read on Thursday, November 10, after their plenary assembly held at Our Lady Mother of Africa Pastoral Centre in Tudor, Mombasa Archdiocese.
Even though government has released some food relief to those affected by famine in the country, an action which the prelates commend “We have received reports that some of this support has not reached the intended recipients or is taking too long to reach them,” members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said in their collective statement signed by the Chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese.
Based on this concern the Church leaders have appealed to the government to “set up a better coordinated multi-agency system of distributing emergency relief, by including Faith Based Organizations, in order to ensure that the support reaches the most vulnerable people and does not end up benefiting a few well-connected individuals.”
In the month of May this year, the bishops launched a drought appeal campaign calling on well-wishers and all people of good will to support millions of Kenyans facing food insecurity and in dare need of humanitarian assistance. They then noted that this is the “worst drought ever in 40 years,” that has affected millions of families in about 25 dioceses in the country pushing them to “brink of hunger.”
In their Thursday 10, message, the prelates appreciated and commended all who have shown solidarity through their support which has been “dispatched to the neediest people in the Country.”
The bishops continue appealing for support “as the drought situation continues to bite hard,” saying, “We appeal yet again, to all Christian faithful, our partners and all people of good will, to contribute and continue sharing whatever little they have, be it cash or other in-kind donations, to enable us save lives of the people facing starvation.”
They further urged the government other organizations and all Kenyans “to study and think through the way to enhance Post Harvest Food Management, in view of increasing our food security and providing Food Banks.”
According to the Church leaders, since the drought is affecting school-going children, “the Government should finance school feeding programs in those areas affected by the current drought so that no school-going child will drop out of school.”
For any contribution to support the KCCB drought appeal campaign: “The Pay Bill Number is 560702 with your name as the account and for any clarification, you may contact our Caritas desk through the telephone number +254 721 354 061.”
Raising another concern during their plenary meeting of unbearable cost of living and the increased burden it places on the people, the bishops ask the government to consider zero-rating essential commodities.
“The price of essential household items such as maize flour, cooking oil, rice, cooking gas and electricity, among others, continues to be way above the reach of ordinary Kenyans, leaving millions struggling to put food on the table. The cost of fuel has also continued to rise every month, contributing further to the increase in the prices of essential goods and services,” reads part of the collective statement of the bishops.
They continued, “We particularly single out the taxes imposed on the basic commodities. We call on Parliament to look into the taxation regime and consider practical fiscal policies like zero-rating some of these basic and essential food items. This will lead to the reduction in the prices of basic food items and petroleum products whose rise has a direct effect on the cost of living.”
“We pray that God will send rain to our land and reduce the suffering caused by the current drought situation in our Country,” the church leaders shared their sentiments and concluded “May we continue to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, showing them compassion and concrete acts of solidarity.”
