As a way of support for people suffering from drought in the country, Kenyan ministers will not get paid for one month.
According to a presidential announcement, the Kenyan ministers resolved that the monies collected from all cabinet members would contribute to governmental measures to assist impacted Kenyans. It also said that the prices of maize, a basic food, were too high and promised to help farmers get their crops to market.
A minister had previously stated that the country will import millions of tonnes of maize, but the cabinet stated that this would now take place in February to give farmers precedence in selling their produce to the market.
Millions of Kenyans are currently facing famine as a result of the protracted drought and are in desperate need of food assistance.
This week, the government announced a financial campaign for Kenyans to donate to drought victims, including the use of a mobile money network. The National Steering Committee on Drought Response, through the office of the Deputy President, put out information for Kenyans who want to send money to families facing famine through PayBill or a bank account.
Last week, the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) declared that it will forego one day of pay each month to help collect finances to tackle the consequences of the country’s drought. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) and the National Youth Service (NYS) will forgo the pay, and he urged Kenyans to contribute a portion of their pay to those impacted by the drought.