Kenyans have reacted to the Magical Kenya opens event that has been happening this weekend.
Kenyans took to social media to criticise the government for neglecting the escalating cases of starvation-related deaths in Turkana and Baringo counties.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, CS’s Amina Mohammed and Najib Balala graced the event, in which an Italian Guido Migliozzi on won the 2019 Magical Kenya Open tournament at Karen Country Club.
The 22-year-old will pocket the top prize of Ksh20.5 million.
Here are some reactions from Kenyans online:
I covered #Turkana famine a few years ago. Turkana people can be self reliant but they're kept poor for business purposes. Relief food supplies is big business in that part of #Kenya. Find pictures l took in Turkana here, the good and the ugly https://t.co/VSNrFGJYBB #Turkana pic.twitter.com/ZMxjvUI7hi
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) March 17, 2019
The other side of ‘Non Magical Kenya’ pic.twitter.com/PKEg5Wv86s
— Mwas(Kangi) (@mwasmwas) March 17, 2019
In working governments; the death of one person to hunger could have suspended all luxury functions and all government machinery deployed to prevent any further deaths; but this is Kenya! Nothing works save for succession politics and corruption.
— Agake Akaya (@itsotienomokaya) March 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/kiptorefelix/status/1107290919676588033
I feel for fellow Kenyans in Baringo and Turkana. It is sad that, ballot boxes, voter registration and population census will reach Baringo and #Turkana except relief food and clean water.
— Babu Owino (@HEBabuOwino) March 17, 2019
Also on the receiving end of Kenyans’ bile was Turkana governor Josphat Nanok who was accused of neglecting his county people despite receiving more funds than 98 per cent of other counties including relief funds.
Read: Nyabururu Girls Suffer Food Poisoning, Parents Barred Access to Ailing Students
Several people have been reported dead in Baringo and Turkana counties, with Turkana taking the lead.
Three days ago, a woman who had gone to burn charcoal hoping to get money for food was found dead.
“A woman from Lodoket-Engol village was on March 5 found dead six kilometres from Kang’irisae centre, where she had gone to burn charcoal, which she hoped to sell to buy food,” said Kang’irisae Location Senior Chief John Ekwar.
It is reported that at least 800,000 of the county’s 1.2 million people in the six constituencies need food urgently, or face starvation.
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