The government has intensified nationwide relief efforts to cushion millions of Kenyans affected by the ongoing drought, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki assuring citizens that every available resource is being deployed to protect lives and livelihoods.
The Deputy President said the State has mobilised food distribution, water trucking and livestock support interventions to reach the hardest-hit communities as part of an expanded national response.
“I assure the people of Kenya that the government will not spare any resources to make sure we don’t lose human life and mitigate the effects of the drought on livestock and wildlife,” DP declared.
He spoke when he chaired a high-level coordination meeting at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, bringing together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of agencies to review interventions and streamline response for maximum impact.
According to the Deputy President, at least 3.3 million people have been affected by the drought following poor rainfall reported between October and December 2025.
Counties currently classified in the crisis stage include Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Marsabit, Turkana, Kwale, Meru North, Samburu and Isiolo.
“Many counties are in need of food for the people and livestock feed. We are tirelessly working on effective last-mile delivery of food so it does not take long to reach the people. We are also trucking water to the people and livestock,” DP noted.
The government is prioritising the most vulnerable populations, including school-going children, women and persons living with disabilities, to ensure the drought does not disrupt education or deepen social hardship.
“We need food to reach our schools so that learners are not disrupted by the ongoing drought situation. We have reviewed and resolved to upscale the ongoing interventions. We have also resolved to diversify the provision of food to take care of special members of society, including children, women and vulnerable members of society,” he stated.
Alongside relief measures, the government is strengthening food production systems ahead of the 2026 long-rains season.
Kenya Railways has begun transporting subsidised fertiliser consignments to National Cereals and Produce Board depots to support farmers’ preparedness and stabilise food supply chains.
The fertiliser programme, implemented in collaboration with the National Cereals and Produce Board and private-sector partners, is designed to lower logistics costs, improve access to farm inputs and sustain employment across the agricultural value chain.
Rail, intermodal freight and expanded storage infrastructure are being leveraged to move fertiliser efficiently to key agricultural zones, reinforcing national efforts to boost production even as emergency relief continues.
As Kenya prepares for the long-rains planting season, the dual approach, immediate humanitarian support alongside strengthened agricultural logistics, signals a coordinated strategy aimed at saving lives now while securing food systems for the months ahead.
