Ruto retains Shallow Yahya as NDMA board chair for new term
The NDMA is the country’s lead agency in drought preparedness, response, and long-term mitigation.
Shallow Abdullahi Yahya will remain at the helm of the National Drought Management Authority’s (NDMA) board for another three years following his reappointment by President William Ruto.
The new term starts on August 8, 2025.
The appointment was confirmed in a gazette notice, in which the President said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 (1) (a) of the National Drought Management Authority Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, reappoints Shallow Abdullahi Yahya to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Drought Management Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 8th August, 2025.”
The NDMA is the country’s lead agency in drought preparedness, response, and long-term mitigation. It coordinates action between national and county governments, humanitarian organisations, and local communities to reduce the effects of drought.
Its duties include running early warning systems to track rainfall patterns, vegetation cover, and other indicators, as well as producing regular updates to help trigger timely action.
The authority also develops contingency plans at both national and county levels, guiding interventions such as food and water relief, livestock support programmes, and livelihood recovery initiatives.
Beyond emergency response, the NDMA promotes measures to prevent future crises. These include water harvesting, reforestation, soil conservation, and incorporating drought risk reduction into county and national development plans.
The authority also carries out public education campaigns, research, and community engagement to increase awareness of drought risks and encourage adaptive practices.
Its work aims to build resilience so that communities can withstand and recover from climate-related shocks.
Yahya’s continued leadership will see him steer the board in shaping policy and oversight for the NDMA, ensuring the agency remains effective in protecting lives, livelihoods, and the environment from the impact of drought.
