The ‘Uasin Gishu County Save a Life Initiative’ has started converting hundreds of bags of maize it has received as donations from well-wishers into flour.
This is in readiness for distribution to families affected by hunger in Turkana County.
On December 15, 2022, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr Eddyson Nyale presided over the rollout of the exercise – a move he said was agreed upon to make it easier for the beneficiaries.
“We have decided to convert the maize into flour because we realized giving the affected persons maize could create another challenge,” said Dr Nyale.
“Having maize into flour will make it easier for the beneficiaries,” he added.
The county commissioner also received more donations from well-wishers.
Some of the donations that were received include an extra 122 bags of maize from three locations in Turbo Sub County.
More donations
According to the county security boss, a key member of the ‘Save a Life Initiative’, they are still receiving donations, even as they prepare to transport the collected items to the affected areas.
Turkana County had been identified as where the donations will be sent to.
“We keep asking Kenyans to continue bringing in their donations. We are now in the final stages before the goods and items collected are sent to the targeted individuals affected by hunger,” said Dr Nyale.
Over a week ago when he led an event in which they received donations from well-wishers, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim, the patron of the initiative, said they had received food and non-food items worth over Ksh6.5 billion.
Some of the donations included 223 bags of maize, cooking oil, maize flour, beans, 258 50-kilogram bags of rice, food supplements and non-food items including animal feeds.
Uasin Gishu branch Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini on his part hailed the initiative which he noted will help many Kenyans affected by hunger.
He challenged other agricultural countries to follow in Uasin Gishu’s footsteps and mobilize locals to donate to other hunger-stricken areas.
The ‘Uasin Gishu Save a Life Initiative’ was launched about two months ago following an appeal from the national government for Kenyans to join hands and help those facing hunger.
According to Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) analyses, at least 11 million people across Kenya and Somalia were projected to face high levels of acute hunger between October and December 2022.
