Turkana’s Tobong’u Lore annual festival might be suspended due to famine

For the past few days, pictures of drought-hit communities have been going round on social media with Kenyans calling for the government to act on the crisis.

Reports indicate that about 1 million people are facing starvation and numbers are expected to rise.

Turkana County is expected to debate whether Ksh.20 million allocated for this year’s cultural festival next month should be diverted to help victims of drought.

The annual Tobong’u Lore festival is to be held from April 16-22 in Turkana, the worst county affected by drought.

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Turkwell MCA Stephen Edukon is however opposed to the festival and is proposing that the money be reallocated.

“It is a great shame that a county receiving donations from well-wishers to feed its people can spend such a huge amount of money for a festival that is of no consequence at such a time when its people are dying of hunger,” he said.

Mr. Edukon is expected to present a motion at the Turkana County Assembly on Thursday, a proposal that the festival be suspended.

A section of youths from the county led by one Blas Ekai have supported the motion claiming that it is even against their culture to hold a festival while their people are dying of hunger.

In February this year, Turkana got the second highest allocation of Ksh.10.3billion according to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill 2019.

Meanwhile, the Devolution Ministry is seeking Ksh.6billion to assist victims of hunger in Turkana and eight other counties.

Despite recent reports that two people died of hunger in Turkana, the government insists that it is ‘fake news’.

Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday said: “There is a lot of fake news around what is happening in Kenya. For example, we were told the other day that 11 people had died… that is not true from where I sit and from all professionals that we have.”

At the same time, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i also insists that no one has died as a result of the famine ravaging various parts of the country.

According to Matiang’i, the said chief from Turkana County who had confirmed that several people had died of hunger is an impostor as he was “fired a long time ago.”

“It’s true we have not lost any life due to the drought situation. The chief purporting to report on the drought situation was fired a long time ago. The CC Baringo has confirmed that not deaths have occasioned by current drought situation,” said Matiang’i on Wednesday.

The affected counties include: Turkana, Baringo, Samburu, Marsabit, Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, Kilifi, Tana River, Makueni, West Pokot, Kajiado, Kwale and Wajir.




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