Outcry as relief food expires in Kenya Red Cross warehouse

[Alex Gakuru]

[Kenyans are furious with Red Cross after they contributed precious money
and foods under a locally initiated "Kenyans for Kenyans" famine relief
campaign. We raised far much more than those foreign humanitarian relief
operations could, only for Red Cross to lock up the food and let it expire
in their stores! A shame on Red Cross. They owe Kenyans and the world an
apology. The "International Community" must safeguard against their
demonstrated negligence from ever happening again, anywhere around the
world - Alex Gakuru]

- - -

By Lucas Ng’asike

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Tonnes of relief food meant for the starving in Turkana County have expired
in Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) warehouse in Lodwar.

Some food expired on January 8 while another consignment is expected to go
bad next week.
The relief food has been in the store for months.

KRCS relief officer in Lodwar Ms Flora Kyondo confirmed the expiry of the
supplies.

Ms Kyondo was at pains to explain why the food was not distributed on time.
"It is true that food has expired in the store but it is now under the
custody of public health officers," said Kyondo.

Kyondo said the organisation stopped distribution of relief food in October
last year.

The relief officer said they had recalled about 1,866 Unimix bags, which
they had distributed to primary schools for analysis.

Expired food

However, sources said the organisation has been distributing relief food in
its compound in Lodwar.

Kyondo had initially denied the presence of the food until the media
confirmed to her that they had taken clips of the expired food.

Turkana Central DC Humphrey Nakitare said Kenya Red Cross Society should
handle the matter.

"Kenya Red Cross is an independent organisation. It should be in a position
to explain what happened," said the DC.

On his part, Turkana Central District Public Health officer Innocent Sifuna
said officials had seized 28 bales of Sorghum Mix, which expired on January
8 this year from Kenya Red Cross warehouse in Lodwar.

He added that all the bales have been recorded and will be destroyed
according to the law.

Disappointment

Dozens of starving residents in the county interviewed have expressed
disappointment over the expiry of relief food meant for them.

Local leaders raised concern over the matter, questioning why KRCS kept the
food in the warehouse for several months without distributing it to needy
residents.

Mr Derrick Ejore of Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was
unfair for KRCS to keep the food until it expires while residents are
starving.

"It is unjust for Red Cross to waste food, which Kenyans donated funds to
buy yet the hunger situation has not been alleviated," Ejore said.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000049866&cid=4&
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