Rob Macaire

UK and Kenya- Economic challenges and food shortage

One of the replies to my last blog commented that I should be writing about the situation in Kenya, rather than worrying about piracy.  I agree that the situation in Kenya is of great concern.   But some of the real issues aren't in the theatre of Nairobi politics, but in the economic challenges and food shortages facing the poorest.   I was up in Turkana a few days ago.   The malnutrition rates there are shocking (by some counts, worse than in Somalia or Darfur).   Many people's income is less than Ksh1000 a month.  So it was inspiring to see some of the innovative work that is being done in a new Hunger Safety Net Programme, in partnership between the Government, DFID, Oxfam, Equity Bank and other partners.   The idea is simple: rather than fall back on food aid every year, help the poorest and most vulnerable families to get out of poverty and hunger for the longer term, by targeted cash transfers.   Making it work is more complicated, so I was impressed to see how modern technology (electronic fingerprinting, swipe cards, and basic solar panels to power card readers where there is no electricity) is enabling outreach to some of the most remote communities.    Cash transfers give people opportunities to meet basic health and education needs that cannot be met by food hand-outs, and help people avoid having to sell assets in bad years.   I am convinced this programme, into which my government is putting some Ksh14 billion over the next ten years, will help countless people out of long term hunger.  But it will only do it as part of a wider Social Protection strategy for the country, which I hope we can help the Government to develop.

When you go and see programmes like this on the ground, it's easier to be hopeful that answers can be found to some of Kenya's biggest challenges.  But they all depend on a government that is able to deliver, so I am with those who want to see less of partisan politics, and more focus on how leaders can pull together for the good of the country.

Rob

Posted at 15:02 28 April 2009 by Rob Macaire  |  Comments[2]