As part of the ongoing drought response appeal, the Cabinet contributed Ksh. 17 million, or its full pay for the month of November, to the drought relief fund.
This comes after the members of President William Ruto’s cabinet unanimously decided last month to forgo one month’s pay as their contribution to the nation’s efforts to mitigate the effects of drought.
The Secretary to the Cabinet confirmed that more than Ksh.17 million had been deposited to the response fund in a letter issued to Mr. Murimi Murage, Secretary of the National Steering Committee on Drought Response.
In the letter dated December 5, it is stated that “a total of Seventeen million, three hundred and forty-eight thousand, six hundred and fifty-six shillings, being the sum total of collective contribution of all members of the Cabinet, is being processed and will be wired to the National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund in due course.”
The Cabinet decided to forgo its pay during its third meeting, which was place on November 29.
The National Steering Committee on Drought Response has already raised more than Ksh. 590 million in only one week since launching its fundraising campaign to support ongoing hunger-reduction efforts in the most severely affected areas.
The government estimates that Kenya would require at least Ksh.17 billion in mitigation funds between now and January for the impacted areas.
The National Steering Committee on Drought Response, made up of 15 members, was established by President Ruto on November 21 through a Special Gazette Notice. The committee then launched Wakenya Tulindane, a nationwide campaign to encourage Kenyans to donate money or goods to those in need in at least 21 counties that have been severely affected by the protracted drought.
In response to a catastrophic drought that has affected nearly half of the counties, over four million Kenyans are in desperate need of food and the plea is intended to help them.
Four years of insufficient rainfall have caused the drought, and there are concerns that the trend may continue into next year.
Donations to the appeal fund can be made using M-PESA PayBill 880990 using the account number in the name of the donor or through the National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund at the Riverside branch of KCB Bank using account number 1305486137.
Subscribers to Airtel Money and Telkom’s T-Kash will also have access to the PayBill.
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