[PHOTOS] Ruto flags 50 trucks of relief food to drought-stricken counties

President William Ruto on Monday flagged off relief food to the drought-stricken counties across the country.

He said there are 23 counties affected by the ongoing drought, with 3.5 people affected.

The 50 trucks flagged off at State House contained 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 bags of beans, cooking oil and assorted animal feeds.

Ruto said the release of the next consignment of food to drought-stricken areas will be on Friday.

"The government on a weekly basis will assess the situation and see what this intervention will mean for the people and what can be done in future,” he said.

The East Africa region and the Horn of Africa have been experiencing adverse effects of climate change, with over 20 million people affected by famine.

A UN report released on Thursday named Kenya among 19 hunger hotspot countries where the food crisis has worsened.

Up to 26 million people are expected to face a crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in Somalia, Southern and Eastern Ethiopia, and Northern and Eastern Kenya.