NAIROBI (Jan. 3) XINHUA - Over 60,000 people living in the Kerio Valley of Marakwet District in northwestern Kenya are facing starvation following a biting famine in the area, East African Standard newspaper reported Monday.
Francis Mutwol, district chairman of the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) party, called on the government to immediately send relief food to the district.
The ruling party official noted that the famine has rocked the district following the recent cattle rustling activities which did not allow the residents to engage in faming and other development activities.
While urging the government to improve the security situation in the district, Mutwol also appealed to non-governmental organizations to supplement government efforts.
Kenyan Assistant Minister for Finance Christopher Lomada has called on the government to increase relief food supply to West Potok District in northwestern Kenya as a result of drought famine.
Lomada said on a tour of his constituency that the current 2,000 bags (90 kg per bag) of relief maize supplied to the district is not sufficient for the hunger-stricken families.
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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 01/03/2000 02:25:31