NAIROBI, Kenya — The Cabinet has approved the release of Sh4.1 billion in emergency funding as drought conditions worsen across the country, pushing millions of Kenyans into acute food insecurity.
In a briefing on Tuesday, the Cabinet said the failure of the October–December 2025 short rains had significantly reduced food production and water availability, with the situation expected to deteriorate further in the coming months.
Government data shows that about 3.3 million people are currently food insecure, a figure projected to rise to 3.6 million by June 2026 if conditions do not improve.
Mandera, Wajir, Kwale, and Kilifi counties have been classified under the Alarm phase, while at least 12 other counties remain in the Alert phase, including pockets outside traditionally arid and semi-arid regions.
Cabinet warned that household food stocks in many affected areas are expected to last only two to three weeks, raising the risk of a full-scale humanitarian emergency.
The drought has also led to rising cases of acute malnutrition, with more than 810,000 children and 104,000 pregnant and lactating women requiring urgent nutritional support.
Livestock deaths, distress sales, and increased human-wildlife conflict have been reported in several counties as communities struggle to cope with shrinking water and pasture resources.
The approved funds will be channelled towards food assistance, water trucking, livestock interventions, and nutritional support programmes targeting the most vulnerable households.
Cabinet said the response will be coordinated through national and county governments, working alongside humanitarian partners to ensure timely delivery and accountability.
The government acknowledged that climate variability and repeated drought cycles continue to strain national response systems, underscoring the need for long-term investments in irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Cabinet reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods, noting that the emergency funding is part of broader efforts to strengthen early warning systems and disaster preparedness.
