The government has released additional resources to address worsening food and nutrition insecurity affecting millions of Kenyans following the poor performance of the 2025 October–December short rains, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking after a high-level consultative meeting with Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and heads of relevant agencies, Kindiki said the government had reviewed the national drought situation and agreed on urgent measures to cushion affected communities and protect livelihoods.
“The Government has reviewed the food and nutrition security in the country following the escalating drought situation occasioned by the sub-optimal performance of the short rains in the 2025 October–December season,” Kindiki said.
According to the government, an estimated 3.3 million people across 23 counties are currently in need of food assistance.
Four counties- Mandera, Wajir, Kwale and Kilifi - have been categorised as being in the worst-hit crisis phase, while 10 counties are now classified as facing a full-blown crisis.
The counties listed as being in crisis are Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Tana River, Turkana, Kwale, Samburu, Kilifi and Meru, specifically the Meru North region.
Kindiki said the government has increased allocations for food and non-food items, water provision and livestock-related interventions, including feed and vaccination, to mitigate the effects of the drought.
“More resources have been released to procure more food and non-food items for the 3.3 million people in need of support across the country, for water provision, livestock feed and other related interventions,” he said.
He added that the government has reviewed and strengthened food distribution networks to ensure efficient last-mile delivery, particularly in remote and arid areas.
“We met Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of relevant agencies to review the situation and agreed on how to streamline last-mile delivery modalities to cushion the people of Kenya and their livelihoods from the effects of drought,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said the government will spend Sh4 billion every month to procure food and non-food items, livestock feeds and water for human, domestic and wildlife consumption.
He also appealed to development partners to support the response.
“We are requesting our development partners to complement this allocation with a Sh2 billion boost to effectively enhance drought interventions,” he said.
Kindiki assured Kenyans that the government remains committed to ensuring affected communities have access to sufficient food, water and medical supplies as drought conditions persist.
“The Government will do everything possible and mobilise all the necessary resources to ensure Kenyans in the affected areas have sufficient food, water and medical supplies,” he said.
