"Drought is to be declared a national disaster". This is the appeal of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) through its Chairman, His Exc. Mgr. Philip Anyolo, Bishop of Homa Bay.
"We hasten to appeal to the Government to declare the current drought a national disaster in order to beckon the international community to step forward and support the many Kenyans who are suffering from this predicament", said Mgr. Anyolo at a press conference in Nairobi.
According to KCCB 2.4 million Kenyans urgently need help. During the conference, Mgr. Anyolo was accompanied by Mgr. Martin Kivuva Musonde, Archbishop of Mombasa, Mgr. Cornelius Korir, Bishop of Eldoret, by Mgr. Anthony Muheria, Bishop of Kitui, by Mgr. Joseph Mbatia, Bishop of Nyahururu. All noted that reports from dioceses and parishes in the country indicate tales of suffering, desperation, hopelessness and imminent loss of lives.
"Even though the Kenyan Government, Kenya Red Cross and other philanthropic groups have made varied interventions, these remains in adequate because the number of families affected is huge. We are in a state of hunger, a looming disaster", said the Bishops, who have launched a call to action to all ecclesial and social groups.
The Counties most affected by drought are: Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Mandera, Wajir, Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot and Baringo.