Over 25,000 needy residents of Kirinyaga
County are set to benefit from a relief food aid program led by Governor Anne
Waiguru.
The food distribution drive is the
second phase of a program that kicked off in May to shield needy and vulnerable
families from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
The first phase that was in May and June
saw another 20,000 residents benefit from relief aid.
The food distribution program kicked off
on Tuesday and is expected to end on Friday having covered over 6,500
households across the four constituencies in the county.
While commissioning the relief food
distribution, to be conducted by the County Executive Committee Members, Governor
Anne Waiguru said that the county’s relief aid program was continuing to help
the elderly and the vulnerable groups. She urged people to continue looking out
for each other during Covid 19 pandemic season and thanked the wellwishers who
continued donating relief food for the vulnerable.
The County Executive Committee Member
for Agriculture, Jackline Njogu, who led the other CEC members in the food
donation drive said that the program was aimed at mitigating the impact of
Covid-19 on the most vulnerable residents of the county. She said that the
beneficiaries received maize flour and rice and also masks which were made at
the county’s Kaitheri Apparel Factory.
Julius Muchire, a beneficiary from
Gichugu thanked the governor for remembering the needy people. He said that
some people have been hit hard by Covid-19 to the extent of not affording basic
needs such as food. “This food will take us for a few days even as we hope for
the situation to get better so that some of us can get back on our feet.” Said
the casual laborer noting that the corona virus has led to reduction of job
opportunities.
Despite Kirinyaga County having been
ranked among the richest counties in a report by the Kenya National Bureau of
Statistics (KNBS) there are still pockets of poverty especially among the
elderly and people living in the informal sector. The situation has been
compounded by Covid-19 pandemic which has led to loss of incomes for many
people and lack of help for the elderly who depend on their children and
wellwishers for their survival.
Our news lines are
Kazi njema….ya waiguru wetu