The government has moved to control pest infestation in Marsabit farms to prevent crop failure.
Farmers had cultivated thousands of acres following a promising long rains season coming on the heels of a prolonged drought.
However, an invasion of fall armyworm is threatening the harvest of maize, beans and green grams they were looking forward to.
Some 10,000 acres under crop cultivation are at risk.
The State Department for Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture has stepped in.
Principal Secretary Kelloh Harsama distributed insecticides to farmers in Uran and Galore locations in Sololo subcounty, and launched a spraying drive.
He said the armyworm problem was not confined to Marsabit but is a challenge in 44 other countries.
Harsama said interventions have been introduced to help farmers.
"We have inspected and established the urgent need for intervention in order to safeguard food security not only in this county but Kenya as a whole," he said.
In Marsabit, more than 1,000 farmers were given insecticides. They also received 40 motorised knapsacks and 47 ordinary sprayer pumps and spraying gear.
Harsama urged the farmers to redouble their efforts in food production by using all available water within their reach.
Moyale MP Guyo Wako commended the government for helping small-scale farmers to fight the pest invasion.
Farmers praised President William Ruto's administration for what they termed "always being at hand to assist whenever the need arises".
They appealed for the repair of the area's dilapidated roads, which were destroyed by the recent rains.
The county government issued 1,500 farmers with 8.4 tonnes of an assortment of seeds for planting at the onset of the short rains season.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
