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The government has intensified drought response measures with Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku flagging off a relief food consignment to Mandera and Turkana—two of the counties hardest hit by hunger.
The event, held at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Nairobi, marked the beginning of a wider relief programme targeting all 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties.
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It brought together MPs from affected regions, senior state officials, and representatives from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department.
NDMA estimates indicate that 2.15 million Kenyans across the ASAL belt are in urgent need of food aid. CS Ruku assured that the government will not allow any citizen to die of hunger, especially with forecasts predicting below-average rainfall during the October–December short rains season.
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The consignment includes 6,600 bags of maize for Turkana, 7,200 bags of rice for Mandera, and 8,840 bags of beans for distribution between the two counties. Authorities say the food will reach about 204,600 residents in Turkana and 287,700 in Mandera.
Before the flag-off, the CS inspected NCPB stores and confirmed that food reserves are sufficient to sustain nationwide relief operations. He added that similar dispatches will be rolled out to all drought-affected counties.
“The government has adequate food in stock and logistics in place to ensure timely support to every affected community,” he said, adding that operations are being scaled across all 23 counties.
Lawmakers from Mandera and Turkana hailed the intervention, noting the challenges of delivering aid to remote regions.
CS Ruku further emphasized the importance of long-term measures to tackle food insecurity, highlighting investments in irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-smart agriculture.
“Relief aid is critical in the short term, but it is not a permanent solution. We are committed to initiatives that empower communities and reduce reliance on food aid,” he stated.
He also called on ministries, counties, NGOs, development partners, and the private sector to support government efforts.
As relief trucks departed Nairobi for northern Kenya, the state reaffirmed its pledge to strengthen interventions and ensure no community is left behind.
