Agony of empty sufurias

By Standard Team

The Kenyans for Kenya famine relief initiative has topped Sh65 million, largely on Safaricom’s M-Pesa contributions. Trucks carrying tonnes of food left Nairobi for the far-flung areas where sufurias ran empty and the fireplace turned cold long ago. Kenyans in the Diaspora closed ranks to mobilise support for the starving back home.

Hungry children scramble for the last crumbs of ugali in a sufuria after the main meal was served in Ngaremara, Isiolo central division last week. [PHOTO: Ali Abdi/STANDARD]

Floodgates of international support opened with the arrival of 32 tonnes of foodstuff, medicine and food supplements worth Sh27 million from Humedica International Aid of Germany. The picture of full scale famine and humanitarian crises emerged as The Standard/KTN news crews returned from the field with stories that are bound to stir the conscience of our nation.

From Kitui to Garissa, West Pokot to Wajir, Lodwar to Baringo, everywhere the story is the same — empty sufurias and hungry stomachs.

The misery is summed up by the cries in hospital wards, where children whose only illness is malnutrition, fight for dear life on drips and in the their mothers’ laps — who know only too well that when they are discharged, they will return home to empty sufurias and cattle kraals.

The horror of famine is summed by the misery of Mzee Hajji Ahmed Abdullahi Guhad of Garissa who, in two months, lost 800 cows worth at least Sh20 million, because on average one of them goes for Sh25,000. His mistake? He refused to sell the stock in keeping with his tradition and pastoralist pride — now he is a monument of sorrow as he fights for survival behind the veil of his horrendous loss. He is not alone, but is just an example of the cruel hand that weather can deal to those who living in the famine furnaces up North.

Bold step

In Mandera, stories abound of the ravage of famine, the most horrid of which is how Somali women have now turned to what is a taboo in their communities — harvesting and selling matumbo (tripe). In good times the tripe is all thrown away, but now it is what they bring home, and it matters little to them that they are looked down upon for taking the bold step to save their children.

In New York a group of Kenyans have organised a rally in Manhattan Times Square to highlight the ravage of famine back home and draw international support.

The loads of foodstuff, including maize meal and baby food flagged off Nairobi on Saturday, are expected to reach the worst hit areas of Northern Kenya in course of the week.

The first consignment of food aid under the "Kenyans for Kenya" initiative was flagged off at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park a day after the Government flagged off another consignment of 100 tonnes of maize and 80 tonnes of rice to Turkana and Garissa.

The Government promised the food donated will reach the hungry and State officials were warned against selling them for money.

Kenya Army personnel will help in the distribution of Government rations while churches and relief agencies will take charge of food from private donors.

Wearing the colours of the Kenyan flag in solidarity with the affected families, Kenyans thronged Uhuru Park in the morning to witness the first batch of food leave for Turkana District, the areas where the first images of starving Kenyans caught the attention of the county.

The trucks are ferrying over 150 metric tonnes of UNIMIX — a highly nutritious corn and soya blend, worth Sh18.4 million.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the implementing organ for the Kenyans for Kenya Initiative say they are targeting some 21,000 school children, highly malnourished elders and lactating mothers. Data collected at Safaricom Centre indicated that Sh63 million raised so far on M-Pesa came from only a quarter of a million people.

"I am humbled by ordinary Kenyans who have shown that the citizens can come together and make a difference in this country. This is an indication that Kenya can do away with donations from outside the country if we put our foot down," said Abbas Gullet, KRCS Secretary General. Abbas expressed concern over the conditions of host communities surrounding refugee camps in Northern Kenya who had been neglected as preference was given to incoming refugees.

"The situation is getting dire for host communities who live around Dadaab and surrounding camps. Most of them are being forced to join the refugees in the camps because they have nothing," said Abbas.

He announced that next Friday would be the turn of corporate organisations to join in and augment the efforts made so far by ordinary Kenyans. The initiative also got a boost from Kenyans in the Diaspora who after watching images of suffering Kenyans joined Safaricom, KCB, KRCS and the media fraternity to fund-raise to feed hungry Kenyans.

"I thank Kenyans who continue to contribute to the Kenyans for Kenya initiative. None of that money came from politicians or the corporate sector," announced Mr Bob Collymore, Safaricom CEO.

Airtel and orange

Mr Collymore said if donations continued to flow the initiative was capable of surpassing the target of Sh500 million. A representative of the Media Owners Association, KASS FM chairman Mr Joshua Chepkwony appealed to more Kenyans to make an effort of donating even one shilling. "Imagine if every Kenyan donated a shilling, it will be Sh40 million, which will feed a section of people until the situation gets better," said Mr Chepkwony.

The initiative which is already turning out to be the biggest such effort ever mounted in Kenya, is being coordinated on several fronts, including pledges from companies that will be made public during a meeting set for next Friday at Serena Hotel.

Telkom Orange became the latest to join the Kenyans for Kenya initiative, and in the process made available its mobile money platforms, for raising cash to feed the over 3.5 million Kenyans faced with starvation.

As at 12.30pm, Saturday, M-PESA contributions through the emergency number 111111 had risen to slightly over Sh63 million, while the Airtel account had netted over Sh200,000. The balance at the KCB emergency account number 11 33 33 33 38 as at close of business on Sunday stood at Sh2.5 million.

Other corporate organisations that have joined the initiative are audit and management firm Deloitte who will be the official auditors of the fund, and Nakumatt Supermarkets, which has launched donation tills in its 29 branches across the country.

With Airtel and Orange joining the campaign, donations can now be sent through Airtel Money and Orange Money Transfer. KRCS cash tins are to be placed in 169 KCB branches countrywide for receiving donations.

"At the moment our vehicles, ambulances and personnel are on the ground helping with relief distribution,’ said the military spokesman Mr John Mwandikwa.