Kenya seeking $407M in food assistance

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Kenyan government said Friday it needs more than $407 million in international food aid to deal with the major food shortages in the country.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi that the requested $407 million in foreign aid represents the majority of the nearly $471 million needed to feed Kenya's 10 million starving residents, The Daily Nation (Nairobi) said.

The president said the financial estimates come from the Kenya Food Security Steering Group.

Kibaki said his government will be able to pay for a portion of the predicted cost, but called on the international community for assistance in meeting the remaining costs.

"I am therefore appealing to all our friends and development partners to assist us in meeting the shortfall of 32 billion shillings ($407 million) that will be needed to ensure the needs of 10 million Kenyans are met until the end of August this year," the president said Friday.

The Nation said the food crisis in Kenya was primarily caused by a poor harvest in the East African country.