Drought-hit Kenya donates food aid to neighboring Somalia

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya, which has been hit hard by a devastating drought, delivered food aid to victims of a terror attack in Somalia that claimed 125 lives in late October.

In a statement, the Kenyan Defense Forces said the government has “delivered a planeload of emergency relief aid to the government of Somalia following the devastating bombings undertaken by Al Shabaab militia in Central Mogadishu.”

The consignment comprises assorted food items such as mixed vegetables, onions, carrots, corned beef, dry potatoes and bread among other foodstuffs.

Speaking on behalf of the forces, Col. Victor Kang’ethe said: “We feel the pain that our brothers and sisters in Somalia are feeling and we are grateful to his excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces William Ruto for this initiative which will help alleviate the suffering of our neighbours.”

Kenya is facing its worst drought in 40 years as four consecutive failed rainy seasons have caused livestock and crops to die and many children to starve.

- Mixed reactions

Since January 2021, according to the UN refugee agency, a devastating drought has displaced 1 million Somalis in the horn of Africa, and more are expected to flee as communities face famine. The devastating drought ravaging Somalia is driving communities to famine and forcing people to flee their homes in search of help.

The kind gesture by Kenya has drawn mixed reactions.

“I honestly think our government has got its priorities, completely wrong. At this time and place in Kenya, when Kenyans are dying of starvation, life has become extremely difficult for many. I do not expect any sane government to be delivering food aid to their neighbors or strangers while Kenyans are starving,” said Daniel Kariuki, a 42-year-old accountant.

Caroline Shaka, a law student in a Nairobi college, said that “helping people is a commendable thing, especially in light of the attack that left so many people dead. However, instead of giving them food that we hardly have, give them medical supplies to treat their wounded and fly them to Nairobi for specialized care, don’t share food that we barely have.”

However, Emmanuel Kipngetich, a businessman, said that “as a God-loving nation we should always share even if we don’t have. I commend our government for sharing the little food that we have.”

Earlier this month, Kenya allocated 2 billion Kenyan shillings ($16.4 million) for food relief to more than 4 million people affected by a severe drought in many parts of the country.

Ruto said that the funds come after a previous allocation of 3.2 billion shillings ($26.3 million) for the purchase of relief food.