Prime Minister Raila Odinga has announced that the government will construct dams in drought stricken areas to harvest rain water for irrigation and improve food security in the country.
He said due to changing weather patterns rain fed agriculture has become an unreliable source of food. “Changing climatic patterns world over have resulted in two extreme weather patterns – El Nino characterized by too much rainfall and La Nina which is a dry spell,” he said.
The PM said, as a temporary mitigation measure, the government will provide relief food to areas that have a shortage. Raila was addressing residents of Wote in Makueni County where he said that the government will earmark funds to tarmac Emali-Wote road in the coming financial year.
Earlier the PM addressed roadside rallies at Salama, Sultan Hamud, Emali and Matiliku townships in during his tour to assess the food situation in the area.
He said the government will step up the ongoing school feeding programme alongside paying school fees for students in affected areas so that their education is not interrupted.
Raila regretted that fifty years after independence poverty continues to stalk Kenyans due to poor governance. “Poverty is a challenge the government has decided to tackle so that this country moves to another league’’, he said.
He said that Kenyans can look forward to a better future as the new constitution guarantees equal rights for all. Assistant minister Wavinya Ndeti called on Kenyans to be wary of individuals who opposed the enactment of the new constitution and had now regrouped to frustrate its implementation.
She urged the PM to stand firm and ensure that the new laws are implemented without any hindrance for the benefit of the country. “I urge you Prime Minister to maintain your firm stand so the constitution is implemented in letter and spirit,”the Kathiani MP said.
Former assistant minister Kalembe Ndile advised Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka not to be misused by the PNU wing against the ICC.“PNU is trying to defeat justice using other means not known by law,” he said.
Kalembe said Kenyans were unhappy with the shuttle diplomacy and the move could prove counterproductive and adversely affect him politically.
“The popular wave indicates that most Kenyans favour ICC so that justice can be done for the benefit of this country’s future. Going against this can be very costly,” he warned.
Accompanying the PM were ministers Fred Gumo, Dalmas Otieno, Mohammed Elmi and assistant minister Alfred Khangati.
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