13,000 pupils to benefit from L. Turkana’s wind power’s Shs12mn food program 

Marsabit, Kenya, Jan 12  – Nearly 13,000 pupils in Marsabit county are set to benefit from a  two-month Emergency Food Relief Programme worth Shs 12 million launched by Lake Turkana Wind Power(LTWP) ltd.

Under the program, LTWP will be donating food which will be distributed directly to the schools by the firm’s community liaison team.

LTWP CEO,  Philip Leferink, who spoke at the event to launch the program, said that the project was vital and timely for the continuity of the pupils’ education during their last term of the academic year.

“The drought situation in Northern Kenya is dire. We as LTWP have ramped up our drought assistance programs and we will provide sufficient food to feed each primary school pupil daily, in all sixty primary schools located in Laisamis constituency,” Leferink said.

Marsabit County Commissioner Paul Rotich lauded the move and called on more organizations to join hands to cushion local communities affected by the drought.

“We welcome other organizations to help communities affected by natural disasters. Our role includes building resilient relationships that directly support all aspects of families’ wellbeing. We can make a difference if governments, organizations, and the private sector act swiftly to meet the needs of affected communities,” he said.

County Director of Education Apollo Apuko reiterated Rotich’s remarks adding urging Kenyans to collaborate towards alleviating the chronic food insecurity challenge affecting communities.

“Food security affects the delivery of education to children, especially in the formative years. This should be a priority for us, I believe that an investment in knowledge, pays the best interest,” he added.

A report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicated that the cumulative impact of two consecutive poor rainy seasons had caused humanitarian needs to rapidly rise in the Arid and Semi-Arad Lands (ASAL) region of Kenya.