Ready to prepare maize received from the District Commissioner’s office in Murang’a South

The prevailing shortage of food crisis experienced in the country within the lower parts of Murang’a district has highly affected thousands of women.

They bear the problem as their husbands have relocated to the urban areas and quarries in search of jobs to supplement their efforts towards providing food and other necessities to their families.

In parts of Murang’a, women have been left alone to shoulder the burden of meeting their families needs as the few men remain glued to trading centres trying to earmark one who would buy them cheap, illicit brews that have sneaked into the market.

A survey in Kambiti area of Murang’a South district has established that majority of men have left for Nairobi in search of employment leaving behind their spouses and children.

However as a result of food shortage, in the area women are depending on famine relief food or they search for manual jobs which are hard to get. A number of residents at Kwa Muthike area along the Nairobi Nyeri highway are engaged in charcoal burning and making bricks for survival.

At times they sell mangoes as their areas are rated among those producing the best fruits. Women are the worst hit as they also travel long distances in search of water after the wells dried up between January and March this year.

In some homesteads, it has been noted that children are dropping out of schools aiming at assisting their parents in the struggle to provide food and other necessities for their siblings.

John Mutua a standard seven pupil at Kambiti primary school is among those who have dropped out to help save his single mother and seven siblings from starving. He dropped out from school in early June upon learning that his mother was getting weaker owing to the many problems they were facing in order to help her with her duties.

Primary schools within Kambiti location and Maranjau have reported increased drop out cases as many moved to help their parents in searching for food.

Sixteen year old Mutua feels a need to return to school. He dropped out in order to help his family by fetching firewood which he sells at the nearby Kwa Muthike market at Ksh. 20 per load. Mutua says “On a good day I can manage to fetch three loads of fire wood and the money I get is used to buy maize flour. At least it helps my mother feed us.”

Women interviewed said they watch young children dropping out of school due to hunger, and are calling on the government to establish vibrant water projects to save those living in lower parts of Murang’a district which do not have any cash crops like those in the upper parts.

In the lower parts, sand harvesting and excavation of stones are the main occupations for young men and women. “Most families have a single meal a day, regardless of their age and health condition,” said Michael Muli a village elder.

When food from government stores is finally brought, women armed with baskets with children strapped on their backs are the main feature. Only a few men milled in the distribution centers manned by provincial administration.

In June the government through Murang’a South District Commissioner Maalim Mohammed donated 150 bags of maize out of which 50 were allocated to four primary schools. The DC said the government was doing every thing possible to ensure all the families were provided with food to save them from starvation. He assured the public that more relief food would be provided calling on parents to return their children to school to benefit from free primary education.

Waiyua Nzomo in her 80’s says she has watched over the years many children dropping out of school owing to the increased poverty levels in Kambiti location. “Women are the worst hit as men leave us with children as they move out in search of food.” she said.

Food scarcity in Kenya has emerged mainly due to the post election crisis, which was severe in areas known to be the country’s bread basket such as Western Kenya, parts of Central Province, and the Rift Valley.