NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto says the government has released more than Sh10 billion in the past three months to support drought mitigation efforts across the country, as millions of Kenyans grapple with one of the worst dry spells in decades.
“We will continue to scale up our interventions to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and preserve livestock in the most affected regions,” President Ruto said on Thursday.
He was speaking in Wajir, in one of the worst-hit parts of the country by the drought disaster.
Fresh Funding to Strengthen Response
On February 10, the Cabinet approved Sh4.1 billion in additional funds to intensify drought relief operations, bringing the total released since December 2025 and January 2026 to over Sh10 billion.
The latest funds are earmarked for relief food, logistical support and essential non‑food assistance across the hardest‑hit counties.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, defending the government’s drought strategy, noted that President Ruto authorised Sh2.5 billion in December, Sh3.5 billion in January, and the recent Sh4.1 billion to sustain the nationwide response.
“Support will continue on a monthly basis until full recovery is achieved,” Kindiki said, urging critics to avoid politicising the drought response.
At the same time, the government has released more than KSh10 billion for drought mitigation efforts nationwide in the past three months. We will continue to scale up our interventions to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and preserve livestock in the most affected regions.
Millions in Need as Drought Worsens
The funding comes amid warnings from the National Drought Management Authority that drought conditions have deteriorated rapidly since January 2026, following a poor October‑December 2025 rainy season that delivered just 30–60% of long‑term average rainfall — the driest in parts of eastern Kenya since 1981.
Authorities estimate that about 3.3 million people across multiple counties are already facing acute food insecurity, with projections suggesting the figure could rise to 3.6 million by June without robust interventions.
The areas of greatest concern include the arid and semi‑arid lands (ASAL) of Mandera, Wajir, Kwale and Kilifi, all of which are in the “Alarm phase” of drought monitoring. At least 12 additional counties remain in the “Alert” phase — showing signs of worsening conditions.
Targeted Relief and Livestock Support
The government has rolled out a mix of short‑term and medium‑term interventions. These include:
- Distribution of relief food in drought‑stricken counties.
- Water provision for human and livestock consumption.
- Logistics support to ensure last‑mile delivery reaches remote communities.
- Non‑food assistance, including hygiene kits and cash transfers in some counties.
Earlier in January, the government also disbursed KSh870 million in direct cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) to support more than 132,000 drought‑affected households.
Tension in Political Debate
The government’s response strategy has become a subject of political debate. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticised the scale of funding as inadequate, saying it falls below international standards needed to support vulnerable populations effectively.
In response, President Ruto and Deputy President Kindiki have defended the government’s interventions, highlighting the progressive monthly release of funds and reiterating that long‑term infrastructure solutions, such as water storage and irrigation projects under the National Infrastructure Fund, are also part of enduring drought resilience plans.
