- Between December 2022 and January 2023, the government spent Sh1.2 billion on relief food distribution in 206 sub-counties.
- Kenya has now registered five consecutive failed rainfall seasons since the October to December 2020 short rains.
Image: /REBECCA MINAO: TWITTER
EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development CS Rebecca Miano has reassured senators the government is making efforts to scale up drought response interventions.
In a press statement, the CS said some 89 development partners and non-state actors are currently involved in drought response in ASAL counties.
She said the partners include UN agencies, international and national Non-Government Organisations, as well as Red Cross organisations.
Miano noted that the agencies have mobilised about Sh44.7 billion for drought response as of December 2022.
“I would like to reiterate that the government is doing everything possible to ease the suffering of Kenyans affected by drought, albeit with meagre fiscal resources,” she stated.
On February 2, several Senators raised an alarm over the worsening drought raving parts of the country and called for the declaration of the situation as a national disaster to enhance resource mobilisation.
The 14 lawmakers for the Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) want the government to reassess the situation and design a proper response to save millions of Kenyans affected by the drought.
On Saturday, the CS noted that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta officially declared drought in parts of Kenya a national disaster on September 8, 2021.
“That declaration is still in force. This means that the government is on high alert on the situation that the ongoing drought has caused and is taking appropriate steps to alleviate the pain that has come about as a result,” she said.
Miano further noted that an assessment of the 2022 short rains season to ascertain its impact on food security in the country is underway.
“The findings of the assessment will be released to stakeholders in mid-February 2023. That report will inform the steps the government will take thereafter,” she said.
Kenya is among the Horn of Africa countries that are currently experiencing a prolonged drought.
The country has now registered five consecutive failed rainfall seasons since the October to December 2020 short rains.
At the moment, 22 out of the 23 Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties and 45 wards in 9 additional counties in Mt. Kenya, Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria regions are affected by drought, according to the CS.
Miano noted that since 2021, the government has thus far spent more than Sh25 billion to cushion affected populations against starvation and other drought effects.
“This week, the government allocated an additional Sh2 billion for the purchase and distribution of relief food and to scale up of livestock off-take,” she said.
She added that the State Department for ASALs is in the process of procuring food for distribution to citizens affected by the worsening drought situation.
“Between December 2022 and January 2023, the government has spent Sh1.2 billion on relief food distribution in 206 sub-counties,” the CS noted.
Miano further noted that the private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response established by President William Ruto in November last year has mobilised more than Sh600 million.
She added that in December, the Steering Committee distributed food hampers to 14,300 food-insecure households in Kilifi, Kitui, Samburu, Marsabit and Meru counties under the Wakenya Tulindane initiative, targeting 2,860 households in the worst affected sub-counties.