At least 179,000 people in Kwale County are facing severe hardship due to drought and urgently need relief food, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has reported.
According to the latest assessment, around 90 percent of the county has been hit, with all six sub-counties—Lunga-Lunga, Msambweni, Samburu, Matuga, Kinango, and Shimba Hills—experiencing critical shortages of water and food.
Speaking in Kwale Town, NDMA Chief Executive Officer Hared Hassan said the county is now officially under a drought alert phase, placing it among the country’s most affected regions.
Hassan confirmed that the government has already begun relief efforts, with 10,000 bags of food being distributed to vulnerable households.
“Kwale is in the drought alert phase, but there is nothing to worry about. The government has put in place deliberate measures to mitigate the drought,” he said.
He added that the national government has allocated Sh4.1 billion for drought response in arid and semi-arid counties, covering food supplies, emergency response operations, and the repair and maintenance of strategic boreholes to ease pressure on communities, schools, and hospitals.
Hassan assured residents that the country is prepared to manage the worsening situation, with a clear contingency plan in place to prevent the drought from becoming a full-scale crisis. He also praised the Kwale County Government for its proactive coordination and rapid response.
County Commissioner David Rotich said the government, working with county authorities and partners, is committed to strong interventions to prevent loss of life from hunger. He also urged residents to be cautious of wildfires and avoid clearing farms using fire, noting that the Kenya Forest Service has issued a wildfire alert.
Rotich added that the Kenya Wildlife Service is monitoring wildlife movements to prevent animals from straying into farms in search of food and water.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said the county, in partnership with the national government, has put in place comprehensive measures to ensure affected households have access to food and water. These measures include water trucking through the Coast Water Works Development Agency, distribution of relief food, provision of animal feed, and payment of school fees for learners in the hardest-hit areas.
“We have come together with the national government and other stakeholders to assess the impact of the ongoing drought, particularly in Kinango, Samburu, and Lunga-Lunga,” Governor Achani said.
She added that her administration is also strengthening long-term water infrastructure through water pans, boreholes, and expanded piped water networks to secure reliable access for households, agriculture, and livestock.
So far, the county has built over 60 water pans in Kinango, Samburu, and Lunga-Lunga, drilled more than 100 boreholes, and expanded over 5,000 kilometres of water pipelines to improve access in arid areas.
