FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kenya: Concert start global action against food crisis and calls on leaders to act now to stop the looming hunger

On Saturday 31st May 2008, top local vernacular singers Wangare Kabera and Kamande wa Kioi, led close to 3000 residents of Mwiki in calling for action to stop the looming food crisis. The concert organized by the Kenya Food Security Network, a member of GCAP Kenya was the first among a global chain of action in the lead up to the FAO meeting in Rome (June 3-5), demanding that governments Act Now to Stop the looming Food Crisis.

Mobilization in Kenya

The Salvation Army band and a group of artists 'the Zangarewa troupe' led the street marches to sensitize the residents to warn the residents not to expect the price of food to come down in the next two years.


"Our leaders must take care of our stomachs. CDF for the next two years should be for food not for building roads for the rich people to drive,"Wangare Kabera. 'nainyui anduethi nokinya mwifange. Wona shilling urie thumuni uige thumuni, nouria uteri matu arie murina wanyina wathira akue'(and you young people must be prepared. When you get a shilling use a fifty cent and safe a fifty cent. Those without ears will have to eat the mother's necklace and die thereafter.)


Addressing the crowd Action Aid Kenya food security and trade policy officer, Angela Wauye called for:

• The fast tracking of the implementation of agricultural related policies
• Stepping up the agriculture sector budget

• Promoting household and national food production through the revival of irrigation schemes, supporting water management activities for small scale farmers in low rain potential area and provision of subsidies in farm inputs and improved extension services
• A portion of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) be dedicated to agricultural development
• Access related social protection in terms minimum income, tax relief for those earning less than Kshs.30, 000, public work programmes for the youth etc.
• Reviewing downwards MPs salaries

GCAP national coordinator called for the following outcomes from the FAO meetings:

• Mobilise emergency funding to prevent starvation
• Invest in sustainable small-scale agricultural production in developing nations and in programs that empower women and girls
• Meet and Exceed the Millennium Development Goals
• Remove perverse incentives to turn food into biofuels
• End market speculation that artificially increases food prices
• Tackle the underlying causes by ending harmful trade policies and re-starting the Doha trade round of talks

"The crisis is no joke, we've had enough talk over the years, what we now need is action which requires everyone to be on board in responding to this crisis but our leaders certainly need to take the lead" says Elizabeth Mueni, Policy advisor with Oxfam GB Kenya.


Elsewhere, a Community based organization, 'Bunge la Wananchi' held street demonstration in the streets of Nairobi. The police violently broke off the demonstration arresting four demonstrators.


Civil society action comes as cases of hunger related death start to be reported in parts of the country. Members of GCAP Kenya have also met with officials from the Ministry of Finance to present the GCAP proposal on food security in relation to the National budget. The GCAP Kenya national coordinator has warned the government on the threat to peace and national security posed by the food crisis 'the fragile grand coalition government must put ugali(food) on people's tables. The expectations are high. We are likely to fall back to the violence witnessed during the post election violence should the people be pushed to tighten their belts to the extent that the belt breaks the stomach'.


Report filed by,
Waituru M. C
Cel:0723-363241
waituru@gmail.com
Global Call to Action Call to Action against Poverty and inequality

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