The government has stepped up emergency interventions to ease the impact of the worsening drought, dispatching a large consignment of relief food to Mandera and Turkana counties, two of the hardest-hit regions.
The consignment was flagged off in Nairobi by Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, marking the start of a broader plan to support communities in all 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the National Cereals and Produce Board depot, brought together Members of Parliament from the affected counties, senior government officials, and representatives from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department.
It followed a high-level consultative meeting chaired by Ruku the previous week to draw up immediate and long-term strategies for drought response.
According to NDMA data, about 2.15 million people in ASAL regions are in urgent need of food assistance as the country faces a prolonged dry spell.
Weather forecasts indicate that the October to December short rains are likely to be below average, heightening concerns about food insecurity in the months ahead.
The relief supplies flagged off include 6,600 bags of maize destined for Turkana, 7,200 bags of rice for Mandera, and 8,840 bags of beans to be shared between the two counties. The ministry estimates that this support will benefit around 204,600 residents in Turkana and 287,700 in Mandera.
Before the dispatch, Ruku toured the NCPB stores to assess the available stock and confirmed that the government has enough food reserves to respond to the crisis. He said more consignments will be sent to other affected regions to ensure that no community is left out.
“The government has adequate food in stock and logistics in place to ensure every affected community receives timely support,” Ruku assured. “We are rolling out relief efforts across all 23 drought-affected counties to reach those most in need.”
Legislators from Mandera and Turkana lauded the government’s swift action, noting the challenges of delivering aid to remote areas. They described the operation as both timely and essential for the survival of communities facing severe food shortages.
While emphasising the urgency of relief distribution, Ruku stressed the importance of building long-term resilience to end the cycle of hunger. He said the government is scaling up investments in irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-resilient farming practices to strengthen food security in vulnerable areas.
“Relief food is essential in the short term, but it is not sustainable,” he noted. “We are committed to long-term solutions that empower communities and reduce dependency on aid.”
Ruku urged ministries, county governments, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector to work together in responding to the crisis.
“We must all come together, government, private sector, NGOs, and local leaders, to make sure no Kenyan sleeps hungry,” he said.
As the relief trucks left Nairobi heading to the northern counties, the government reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up support and ensuring that assistance reaches every person affected by the drought.