Leaders want Kenya’s food policy re-looked

Written By:Diana Okwemo ,    Posted: Tue, Aug 09, 2011

The leaders say experts’ information was ignored and authorities even turned a blind eye yet there were various indicators that drought would strike the nation Joint political parties are now criticizing the government for failing to act on time to mitigate the effects of drought that has led to more than 3.5 million Kenyans to face starvation. Led by their vice chair Col. Ben Muema who is also the secretary general of New Ford Kenya, the parties claimed that the government had been alerted by the meteorological department as early as July last year but was reluctant in addressing the situation. "It is disappointing the government did not make adequate plans to mitigate the effects of the droughts. This has caused untold suffering to our citizens including hunger, starvation and death." They regretted that the government continues to import maize at exorbitant prices yet there is food in other parts of the country a move they linked to corruption. "This has the effect of exporting jobs, expending our meager foreign exchange reserves and discouraging our farmers. We urge that henceforth, the government should buy local produce first before engaging in foreign purchase. We believe that corruption may be the key motivator for this." Speaking to journalists in Nairobi Tuesday, they called for medium and long term measures in addressing food insecurity in the country. "We urge that medium and long term solutions to food shortages be initiated which should include adoption of proper farming methods, irrigation, marketing, storage and distribution. The national Food policy should be implemented in full." About 3.5 million Kenyans are living on the grip of hunger with cases of deaths due to starvation being reported.