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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Aug 15 2011 - 22:26:27 EDT
"During the food flag off, about 2,500 Eritrean nationals living in the
country joined hands to support Kenyans for Kenya initiative by contributing
funds to support the campaign.
Head of Eritreans for Kenya Campaign, Girmay Haile said the community has
been present in the country for close to four decades and would not hesitate
to give assistance.
"Eritreans will never forget the support accorded to them by the Kenyan
people during their 30 year war of independence and displacement," Haile
said.
He is hopeful that the Eritrean Community Campaign will set an example and
trend for other friends of Kenya to engage in similar exercise and express
their appreciation and gratitude especially at this moment of its greatest
need"
http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=71888
Good tidings for starving Kenyans
Written By:Glena Nyamwaya, Posted: Sat, Aug 13, 2011
The Kenyans4Kenya initiative flagged off the third consignment of relief
supplies at Uhuru Park on Saturday
*Kenyans for Kenya initiative has embarked on long-term solutions for the
famine situation in the country as total donations surpassed the Kshs 650
million mark Saturday.*
Speaking during the flag-off of the third food consignment of 150metric
tonnes at Uhuru Park, Nairobi; the Secretary General of Kenya Red Cross
Society Abbas Gullet said though the country expects another drought in the
future, it was prudent to adopt long-term solutions that would ensure
sustainable food security.
"Arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya constitute two thirds of the country's
land mass and could be reclaimed through irrigation and other alternative
modern farming techniques to produce sufficient food both for local
consumption and even export," he said.
Gullet said Kenya has fertile land that could be used to produce adequate
seeds which has been a significant factor in the low production of food in
the country.
"When KRCS distributed 90-kilogram packet of maize seeds to Ukambani,
farmers were able to produce 15 to 20 bags of maize. This is a success story
of how food can be produced through irrigation and adequate seed supply," he
said.
At the same time, Diamond Lalji, Chairman of Cereal Millers Association
encouraged the use of biotechnology in food production as he donated a total
of Kshs 14.4 million from the association and himself.
Lalji called on the government to initiate agricultural policies that would
help the country have sustainable and long-term solutions to food
insecurity.
"The famine in some parts of the country is a significant pointer to the
government to enhance policies and ensure that never again will Kenyans
suffer from famine when the country can become self-reliant in food
production."
During the food flag off, about 2,500 Eritrean nationals living in the
country joined hands to support Kenyans for Kenya initiative by contributing
funds to support the campaign.
Head of Eritreans for Kenya Campaign, Girmay Haile said the community has
been present in the country for close to four decades and would not hesitate
to give assistance.
"Eritreans will never forget the support accorded to them by the Kenyan
people during their 30 year war of independence and displacement," Haile
said.
He is hopeful that the Eritrean Community Campaign will set an example and
trend for other friends of Kenya to engage in similar exercise and express
their appreciation and gratitude especially at this moment of its greatest
need.
On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Kenya Airways Dr
Titus Naikuni said it was important to venture in long-term solutions that
will enable Kenya to be self-sufficient in food production in the coming
years.
"We need to move away from food relief and rain-fed agriculture by focusing
on measures that will guarantee sustainable food security for all Kenyans,"
Naikuni said.
Kenyans for Kenya is an initiative that was launched by the Safaricom
Foundation, KCB Foundation, Kenya Red Cross Society and members of the Media
Owners Association with the aim of raising Kshs 1 billion in one month.
So far, a total of 450 metric tonnes of food has been dispatched to feed
people in the most affected areas of Turkana, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa,
Marsabit, Moyale and Isiolo.
The initiative targets to reach a total of 400,000 including children and
women in dire need of food.
The funds target short, medium and long-term measures to ease the
humanitarian crisis in parts of the country affected by famine.
Figures from United Nation agencies indicate that over 3.5 million Kenyans
face starvation and death as the country grapples with what is believed to
be its worst drought in the last six decades.
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