MP calls for more support to women and rural population

Ijara Member of Parliament Sophia Abdi Noor, has called on the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Board Chaired by Jane Karuku to extend assistance to the rural population.

The Board formed by President Uhuru Kenyatta is meant to foster the national response to the pandemic that has slowed down most of the world economies.

“The principal objective of the fund shall be to mobilize resources for emergency response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Head of State outlined.

Speaking to KNA, Sophia said that the rural population is equally affected by the economic meltdown due to Codid-19 restrictions and is likely to be forgotten if concerted measures are not put in place.

The MP said that in North Eastern region the prices of livestock have drastically dropped yet  90 percent of the rural population rely livestock as a source of income.

“When you visit the livestock markets in Garissa County and across the region you realize that the prices have drastically dropped. This is directly linked to this virus. This definitely affects the population since they are making loses which directly affects their livelihoods,” Sophia said.

Sophia said that miraa traders, majority of them women, who provide for the families have equally been affected as the prices of khat have also dropped.

She however appealed to Kenyans to follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

“While we endeavor to do our best to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, I urge the people of Ijara and Kenyans at large to observe the safety and precautionary measures set by the government through the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of the virus,” she added.

Speaking separately, the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council Chair, Dubat Amey urged the National Government to come up with ways of cushioning farmers.

He reiterated his earlier call to Governors from North Eastern region to create a special kitty to cushion both the livestock and irrigation farmers against the adverse effects of the global pandemic.

“Most of the farmers may not recover unless they are assisted to get back on their feet. The economic effects of coronavirus are evident. By the time the disease is managed our farmers will be out of business,” Amey said.