ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has come under fire over his relief food distribution program in Nyanza.
Owalo has for the last few weeks been leading the distribution of relief food targeting Kenyans in the Luo Nyanza part of the country.
The food distribution program is part of the national government’s effort to help Kenyans facing hunger.
But according to Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma, the food distribution program is being politicized.
Kaluma in a tweet on December 19, 2022, said there are many other counties in urgent need o relief food other than Nyanza.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator also named Turkana, Baringo and North Eastern as areas the ICT CS and government should be giving priority in relief food distribution.
Further, Kaluma noted that locals in Luo Nyanza, where CS Owalo has camped for the initiative are currebty harvesting, hence, according to him, are not facing hunger.
“I’ve just come from Turkana, Baringo and N.E. It pains to see the Minister for ICT @EliudOwalo distribute relief food to Luos who are currently harvesting maize & other crops while Kenyans in those regions are dying of hunger. Let politics not blind our humanity,” the vocal ODM MP tweeted.
I've just come from Turkana, Baringo and N.E.
It pains to see the Minister for ICT @EliudOwalo distribute relief food to Luos who are currently harvesting maize & other crops while Kenyans in those regions are dying of hunger.
Let politics not blind our humanity. @smutoro— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (@gpdkaluma) December 19, 2022
Over the weekend, the ICT CS was in Kisumu East Constituency, Kisumu County for the relief food distribution.
Most vulnerable
“The program is an initiative of H E. President William Samoei Ruto to cushion the underprivileged citizens of Kenya most vulnerable to the adverse effects of the current drought situation in the country,” Owalo said in a post on his Facebook page.
“As we endeavour to make Kenya a digitally empowered nation, we will also spare no effort to ensure that no Kenyan dies of hunger. This is the essence of a responsible and responsive government,” he added.
There have been claims that President William Ruto was using relief food distribution to win over the region that has for years been considered former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s stronghold.
Those criticizing the relief food program claim it is being used to portray the Kenya Kwanza government as friendly to them.
