China Donates Sh2.25 Billion Parboiled Rice to Kenya

The Chinese government has chipped in to help Kenya tame hunger by donating 21,366 metric tons of parboiled rice worth Sh2.25 billion. This is about 450,000 - 50kg bags of the rice that has been partially boiled.

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Liu Xianfa are expected to receive the relief food on Tuesday at the Port of Mombasa.

Kiunjuri said that the consignment will ease the hunger situation in the country and thanked China for the donation.

"I note with appreciation that the Government of the People’s Republic of China has come to our aid.

"This rice will be freely distributed to hunger-stricken Kenyans throughout the country," Kiunjuri said.

100,000 bags of the food commodity will be received first while another batch will arrive in the country in July and August and will be distributed to affected communities for the next six months.

"I thank the government of China for coming to our aid at this time when drought is affecting a big number of our citizens," he said.

The country has faced food shortage in recent months which has prompted the government to import maize from foreign countries, to try and cushion the shortage that has now become a political debate ahead of the August polls.