KCB Foundation responds to Mandera County Drought Efforts

Over 400 drought-stricken families in Mandera county have today received food aid from KCB Foundation. This is part the Kshs.130 million KCB Group has committed to support the country’s drought response initiative, providing food and essentials to thousands of households. Kshs. 100 million will be channeled through Kenya Bankers association while Kshs.30 million will be distributed across 17 Counties
through KCB Foundation.

Received by Mandera County CEC in charge of social services; youth, sports, culture, gender affairs and special programmes, Sumaya Bishar, the donation worth KES 1 million will be distributed by the County Government, KCB Branch Staff and NDMA agents; with vulnerable groups such as women, widows, orphans, the elderly, and persons with disabilities taking priority.

Mandera County is among the 23 Counties in Kenya that are currently facing the ongoing drought that has been termed the worst drought in over 40 years. The drought has had extremely devastating effects in the county, affecting livelihoods and putting children, pregnant women and nursing mothers at risk of malnutrition.

Speaking at the handover on behalf of Head of KCB Foundation, the Foundation’s Partnerships Manager YAW, Mr. Ali Hussein, said “As the oldest bank in Mandera County, KCB is alive to the pain points that the county faces. We are committed to playing our role in alleviating the stresses caused by the ongoing drought and working with the county government towards a sustainable longer-term plan.”

“Working with the KCB Foundation, we will seek to introduce better climate smart innovation through the agriculture pillar of the foundation to empower the farmers in this region with adaptive strategies for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL)” he added.

On her part, Sumaya from the County Government of Mandera reiterated the County’s dire need and called forth for other partners to join in the drought-relief initiative, ahead of the introduction of long-term solutions.

“48% of our county’s population are in need of food support, caused by the raging drought and famine that has rendered our farmlands unproductive and led to the loss of thousands of livestock.”

National Drought Management Authority Mandera representative, Hussein Mohammed Ibrahim also lauded the efforts by KCB Foundation to cushion vulnerable communities in this time of crisis.

This food distribution initiative is part of the KCB Foundation’s commitment to support drought-stricken communities, through National Drought Management Authority, in Kenya to the tune of Sh130 million, providing food and essentials to thousands of households. The Foundation has previously donated foodstuff and necessities to other counties including Kajiado, Machakos, Laikipia, Kwale, Lamu, West Pokot, Moyale and among others. It has further targeted to reach Wajir, Kitui, Garissa, Makueni, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Narok, Marsabit and Turkana.