News

Two succumb to hunger as governor appeals for food aid

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 07:00 | By
Benjamin Cheboi
Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi. PHOTO/Courtesy.

More than 200,000 people are in dire need of relief food in Baringo county as the persistent drought takes its toll in the region with two people said to have succumbed to hunger-related illnesses.

Governor Benjamin Cheboi yesterday appealed to humanitarian agencies and the national government to urgently send relief supplies to the area to curb hunger-related deaths.

Cheboi stated that the situation is dire in the area with weather reports showing the county will see below average rainfall in November and December.

He said a total of 239,036 people are in need of food assistance, adding that out of these, 36,856 are receiving cash transfers from development partners.

“We will continue collaborating with our partners who provide humanitarian assistance as we adopt a more coordinated, real-time and targeted intervention that will guarantee assistance to the vulnerable people in drought-affected areas,” said Governor Cheboi.

Last week, an 80-year-old woman succumbed to illness in Kerio Valley bringing to two the number of people who have died in similar circumstances in the past two weeks.

Living alone

 The death of the grandmother who is said to have been living alone came barely a week after a mother of a three-week-old baby died at Ng’aratuko village in Baringo North sub-county.

 People Daily has also established that insecurity in the banditry prone region is worsening the situation with many locals losing hundreds of livestock, a major source of livelihood to armed bandits.

It has emerged that a breastfeeding mother collapsed last week and died several kilometres from her home while searching for water for her eight starving children including a three-week-old baby.

According to neighbours, the deceased barely had food over a long period of time and would only have a few teaspoons of leftover porridge after feeding her children.

Husband to the deceased, Henry Chesut is yet to come to terms with death of his wife even as he ponders how he will cater for the eight children under his care.

“Due to poor rains, livestock was our major source of livelihood but after being displaced four times due to rampant cases of insecurity I’ve lost all my livestock. I call on well-wishers to support me.”

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT