Launch of “OKOA MAISHA” Initiative for emergency response to the dire hunger crisis in Kenya

The Arid and Semi-Arid counties of Kenya (ASALs) are experiencing a fifth consecutive season of severely depressed rainfall which has led to acute water shortages, livestock deaths, crop failures and serious mental health challenges.

According to the Humanitarian Network and national disaster reports, over 4.5 million Kenyans in ASAL counties are experiencing acute food insecurity which is equivalent to 2.5M animal deaths have been reported.

The reports indicates that an estimated 54,500 children are at the risk of dropping out of school at a sensitive time of national examinations.

The reports further indicates that Over 942,000 children under the age of five years are severely affected as malnutrition levels in some of these counties such as Marsabit, Turkana and Kajiado hit three times the global average.

The Initiative is reporting that the Weather experts are now already predicting a gloomy outlook of a sixth failed season for March to May 2023.

Okoa Maisha Initiative States that through this forum it’s easier to actualize mobilising humanitarian support from Kenyans of goodwill the private sector, individuals, Kenyans in the Diaspora and humanitarian actors to cushion the severely affected brothers and sisters who are at a dire risk of starvation.

 

The launch of a playbill number through M-Pesa 188668 Account Number: Okoa Maisha, targets to reach over 1,000,000 severely affected Kenyans from ASAL counties in the short term and millions more in the long-term.

Okoa Maisha has therefore requested with dry food stuff, nutritional supplements to malnourished children, money, water, logistics support such as transport among other emergency needs.

The forum has however indicated that they’ve been able to receive support so far from the Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG), non-profit actors such as Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Group, Juhudi Mashinani and Christ is the Answer (CITAM), ministries.

Okoa Maisha has noted the selflessness of Singer Reuben Kigame who has agreed to be Ambassador of Hope in the initiative.

As an initiative, however has applauded the ongoing humanitarian efforts by the Government of Kenya, county governments, non-state actors, faith-based organisations, private sector players and other Kenyans of goodwill.

Finally Okoa Maisha has called on the Government of Kenya to accelerate emergency interventions to the level of a National Disaster that this crisis is.