By Samuel Ouma
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has provided a lifeline to drought-hit Athi Ward in Kitui County by donating 17 tons of certified green grams and cowpea seeds.
The donation, part of the ongoing Nature Positive Project, aims to alleviate food insecurity and boost agricultural productivity in the arid region.
Funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through the United Church of Canada (UCC), the initiative targeted 2,160 households, each receiving 4 kilograms of green grams and 4 kilograms of cowpeas.
The seed distribution, overseen by NCCK, was conducted with the assistance of Athi Ward Administrator Festus Kilonzo, local chiefs, village administrators, and Project Management Committee (PMC) members.
“Despite the challenges posed by the drought, we believe these seeds will empower local farmers to grow enough food for their families. On behalf of the Athi community, I extend our gratitude to NCCK for their efforts in restoring the landscape and enhancing livelihoods,” said Festus Kilonzo.
Residents welcomed the donation, expressing hope that the certified seeds would lead to improved harvests and greater food security.
Dorcas Wambua, a farmer from the Katilini sub-location, said, “We are grateful to NCCK for these seeds. The ongoing drought has made it difficult to grow enough food, but we are optimistic that these seeds will yield better crops.”
The donation comes only days after NCCK donated 60 water tanks, each with a 10,000-liter capacity, to 28 schools and 32 churches in the area. These water tanks are meant to assist tree nurseries and environmental conservation efforts, bolstering the community’s resilience in the face of climate change.
