AfDB (RDGE) staff pull together to support the West Pokot community facing starvation
Nnenna Nwabufo
Vice President for the Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, at African Development Bank Group
In response to an alert for urgent intervention in the humanitarian crisis in West Pokot County, staff of the Bank’s East Africa region came together to quickly fundraise amongst themselves to support the community in the drought-prone area located in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
Area Senator, Julius Murgor, had raised the alert, and appealed for assistance towards food, shelter, and other basic commodities, in aid of the community that risked starvation, owing to a drought that had resulted in livelihood losses and displacement of people.
The Bank staff made personal donations in October 2023, which were channelled through Touch Africa Initiative Development, a local community-based organisation. The organisation then purchased food items and distributed them to the elderly and disabled persons, who flocked to the distribution centre – the KAG Church Psigirio.
Touch Africa Initiative Development’s Executive Director, Francis Marita commended the Bank staff for their compassion. “We thank the Staff of the African Development Bank, who have made this food distribution possible. We thank them for their efforts towards protecting the lives of the affected residents,” he said.