Hundreds of locals from the magogoni Gatuanyaga and Munyu villages braved the chilly weather to stand in line to get relief food from the national government,

The country's extended drought has made life intolerable for many people in the country, has left several animals dead and dried rivers,

Based on the current situation, the national government has increased relief food distribution to mitigate the consequences of the drought and cushion disadvantaged households.

PHOTO | COURTESY Thika residents in line for food relief

Wangari, a resident of the area, says that with small children to feed, the suffering they have endured in the past four years to put food on the table is unfathomable, adding that they rarely see good harvests in this area due to erratic rains and rely heavily on government relief food and menial labour from the nearby Del Monte pineapple farm to get by.

The locals, led by Esther Wangari and Esther Wanjiru, thanked the government for remembering them and expressed hope that their planted farms will soon solve their food crisis after years of struggle.

Evelyn Mwikali continued, This area has received a few rainy seasons, and we hope it continues, and their farms are encouraging, and they are hopeful, as we were years ago, that they would soon have enough food.

PHOTO | COURTESY Thika residents in line for food relief

Ward Ngoliba Joakim Njama, a member of the County Assembly, has urged the government to consider tripling the relief food distribution, claiming that most Kenyans, particularly those in his ward, are sleeping hungry.

MP Ng'ang'a, for her part, praised the government's initiative and urged Kenyans to use the extended rainy season to till their farms to produce a big crop.

She said that If the residents get serious about their farms and take advantage of the rains, nothing will stop unga from selling at Ksh.50. It's a choice as a country we need to make

The country is enduring the worst drought in decades, and despite recent precipitation, forecasters predict that rains will be below average.