Kenya: $20M released to stop drought, hunger deaths

NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya’s government on Monday moved to save the lives of 850,000 starving Kenyans following a social media outcry over a drought that has claimed nearly a dozen lives due to water and food shortages.

Speaking to reporters, Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto announced that the government has released 2 billion Kenya shillings ($20 million) to provide food for 865,000 people from 13 out of 47 northern counties facing food insecurity.

“There should be no cause for alarm at the moment,” he said. “The government has put in place intervention to manage the current drought and we will work together with other humanitarian agencies to ensure there are no casualties.”

Ruto said that across Kenya 1.1 million Kenyans are suffering due to the drought’s effects, and as of Monday the death toll had shot up to 11.

This action came after Kenyans turned to social media platforms and shared photos of emaciated drought victims to push the government to send urgent aid to Turkana county.