The government of Kenya decided to declare emergency in the country following the prevailing drought and famine situation. The natural calamity in Kenya has so far rendered nearly ten million people food insecure. A large chunk of the sufferers includes children who are surviving on school feeding programme. About 2.5 million people in Kenya are suffering from various diseases including HIV/AIDS. According to a statement from President Mwai Kibaki’s office, the country needs to import an additional five million bags of maize to tackle the food crisis.

 

With a view to immediately impose the national emergency in Kenya; an inter-ministerial committee has also been set up. The committee will take measures to curb the scarcity of food in the nation. The president of the country asked the food committee to focus on the urgency of providing food to all Kenyans. The country faced the acute short of food due lack of rainfall in the last two seasons which has reduced agricultural production.

 

The Kenyan government has undertaken several measures to ensure sufficient food supply including duty free import of maize and efforts to boost maize production by increasing availability of fertilizers. The government has authorized import of five million bags of maize duty free to meet the maize deficit in the country. It has also taken steps to provide about 15,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the framers at a subsidised price.