State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Ismail Maalim flags off distribution of relief food in Kutulo Sub-County, Mandera/HANDOUTThe government has officially launched Phase One of its drought relief interventions in Mandera County.
The government has since delivered food, non-food support and emergency water assistance to communities severely affected by the ongoing drought emergency.
The drought — driven by below-average October–November–December rains — has left millions across Kenya food insecure and water stressed, with the situation particularly acute in the country’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
According to recent meteorological and food security assessments, the poorly performing short rains have pushed large parts of the northeast into Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity, with rainfall totals recorded at 30–60 percent below average and most northern water points classified as near-dry or in alert status.
Speaking during the distribution exercise in Kutulo Sub-County, State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Ismail Maalim said the government’s intervention demonstrates a sustained commitment to both immediate relief and long-term resilience building.
“This is an immediate response to cushion families affected by the drought through the provision of food, non-food items and water support, even as we continue rolling out long-term programmes to sustainably address drought impacts in ASAL counties,” said Maalim.
The government has so far distributed 13,380 bags of rice and 11,180 bags of beans, totalling 24,560 bags of food commodities across Mandera’s 12 sub-counties.
In addition, the national effort includes the deployment of a water bowser to each sub-county to support emergency water trucking aimed at alleviating acute shortages in homes, institutions and grazing areas.
The interventions align with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritises building resilient communities and ensuring that no household is left behind, particularly during crises.
The drought has triggered severe food insecurity across the country. Recent reports estimate that more than two million people in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands are at risk of acute hunger, with projections of this number rising further if the dry conditions persist.
International humanitarian agencies, including the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), have been scaling up response actions.
State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Ismail Maalim speaks before flagging off relief food in Kutulo Sub-County, Mandera/HANDOUTAccording to the latest drought response data, KRCS and partners have reached tens of thousands of households with food assistance, cash transfers, nutrition outreach and water, sanitation and hygiene services, while resilience measures such as drought-tolerant seeds and pasture management programmes are being implemented.
Mandera South MP Kore Haro, welcomed the government’s support, saying it comes at a critical time for families struggling with the effects of the drought.
“This intervention has come at a critical time for our people. We appreciate the Government’s support and the leadership of the Principal Secretary for coming to the ground to engage communities and respond to their needs,” he said.
His Mandera North counterpart Maj. (Rtd) Bashir Abdullaih, noted that the coordinated national response was essential in easing the humanitarian burden while longer-term drought mitigation measures are pursued.
“This drought has had a devastating impact on our people. We appreciate the Government’s swift intervention and continued presence on the ground to support affected families as we work towards long-term solutions,” added Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan
