NAIROBI, Kenya – The Government has secured assurances from the Government of Zambia to supply up to 1 million 90 kg bags of maize should drought conditions in Kenya deteriorate further, Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Friday.
CS Kagwe said the arrangement with Zambia is part of wider efforts to avert a looming food shortage in the face of a worsening drought that has left millions of Kenyans food‑insecure.
Talks are ongoing and, once pricing is agreed, Zambian traders will be cleared to supply maize to Kenya under regional trade arrangements.
“This maize import plan is a precautionary measure to ensure availability and affordability of maize should local stocks run low,” CS Kagwe said.
He said that an initial batch of 250,000 bags may be released early to steady the market while authorities continue to assess the domestic supply situation.
This comes as about 3.3M Kenyans face acute food insecurity, projected to rise to 3.6M by June 2026.
Drought Deepens Food Insecurity
The move comes amid an intensifying drought across Kenya, driven by successive failed rainy seasons, particularly the October–December 2025 short rains, which delivered only 30 – 60 per cent of normal rainfall in many parts of the country.
This has contributed to a rapid deterioration in food security, with an estimated 3.3 million Kenyans now facing acute food insecurity, a figure that could rise to 3.6 million by June 2026 if conditions persist.
The Government has already approved Sh 4.1 billion (about US $32 million) to scale up drought response interventions, including relief food distribution, water supply and support for livestock, particularly in the hardest‑hit counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Kwale and Kilifi.
Recent assessments show rising levels of acute malnutrition, with more than 810,000 children and over 104,000 pregnant and lactating women affected, underscoring the urgency of expanded humanitarian support.
Regional and Government Response
The National Drought Management Authority and health agencies have warned that climate change and prolonged dry conditions have exposed pastoral and marginal farming communities to heightened food and water scarcity, with livestock deaths and weakened herds reported in several counties.
In addition to seeking maize imports, the Government has been intensifying the distribution of relief food and trucking water to affected areas, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki assuring Kenyans of sustained support to avert loss of life and protect livelihoods.
CS Kagwe reiterated that the maize arrangement with Zambia will be activated only if domestic supplies and strategic reserves prove insufficient, and that reliance on regional partnerships offers a timely and practical buffer against food shocks.
As drought conditions persist, Kenya’s food security outlook will continue to hinge on government action and international cooperation, even as communities brace for further hardship ahead of the March–May long rains.
