The Kenya government will releases Ksh9 billion this month to address the famine crisis in the country. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has said the fund is part of the Ksh21 billion the government had set aside in the national budget to address the effects of drought.
“Phase One in November 2016 to January 2017 was Ksh5.4 billion, Phase Two in February to April 2017 is Shs 9 billion and Phase Three in May to July 2017 is Ksh7 billion,” said the CS in a Nairobi hotel where he was updating the private sector on how the government had intervened to mitigate the national crisis caused by drought.
The CS said, while the Government may provide food and non-food items, the private sector compliments this through support by well-wishers, philanthropists, corporate social responsibility and foundations, provision of additional food, cash transfers, and provision of water.
“In the past, very successful Private Sector initiatives such as “Kenya for Kenyans” have been employed through collaboration of Safaricom and Kenya Red Cross to help deal with drought situations,” said the Nkaissery.
He said the government appreciated and encouraged such private sector initiatives to supplement government efforts. “The government looks forward to closer and more beneficial partnership with the Private Sector in future, particularly in entrenching and enhancing Disaster Risk Management in our development strategies,” the CS added.
The event was attended by the Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Dr. Abbas Gullet. Safaricom CEO Mr Bob Collymore, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Ms. Carole Kariuki, Country Manager for East Africa and International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group Manuel Moses.
“Equally, the private sector too has a social and economic responsibility to assist in disaster mitigation. After all, it is in the interest of the Private Sector to have safe and secure citizens so as to do business with them,” said the CS.
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He thanked the Media for playing a critical role to disseminate information and raising awareness on disaster risk management matters as well as helping carry out civic education on hazards.
He said the Government looks forward to closer and more beneficial partnership with the Private Sector in future, particularly in entrenching and enhancing Disaster Risk Management in our development strategies. “The Government is open to discussing more creative ways in which Private Sector can be encouraged to participate in Disaster Risk Management, capacity building and awareness,” the CS said.
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