Mwingi Central Member of Parliament Gideon Mulyungi has pleaded for help from the national government as drought continues to ravage parts of Kitui county.
The MP wants the national government to provide relief food to residents who are on the verge of starvation following a prolonged dry spell.
“Some learners have stopped going to school due to hunger,” the MP said adding that the affected areas have not experienced sufficient rain in the last three years.
According to the MP, the prolonged drought has also made water accessibility a nightmare forcing residents to trek kilometres to quench their thirst.
He also urged other well-wishes to chip in and help the government alleviate hunger in Mwingi Central.
“I want to ask the government and well-wishers to chip in because many people are starving and in urgent need of food. The drought is acute and starvation is real. The new government needs to speed up to avert hunger-related deaths,” Mulyungi stated.
Alarming drought situation in Mwingi
The legislator’s plea comes days after the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) raised alarm over the drought situation in parts of Kitui, particularly Mwingi North.
Last week, during a tour to Mwingi North, NDMA Chairman Raphael Nzomo said the prolonged dry seasons are eroding efforts being made by the government to make water accessible in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
Nzomo said NDMA has used more than Ksh330 million to improve the accessibility of water in the areas in the last two years.
