National Steering Committee on Drought Response has so far raised Sh650 million towards drought mitigation in the country.
The amount has been raised two months after President William Ruto formed the team.
The Committee on Thursday got a shot in the arm after it struck a deal with the Media Owners Association.
The media committed to disseminating news and information in regard to the Wakenya Tulindane campaign.
“I am pleased to announce our partnership with the Media Owners Association because we need them to let Kenyans know what is going on as we distribute food in the worst hit counties," the chairman of the committee, Peter Ndegwa said during a media briefing.
"I foresee this as a healthy, collaborative partnership to make sure that all Kenyans are covered and no one sleeps hungry."
The funds raised by the taskforce have so far been used to distribute food in some of the worst-hit counties like Mandera, Kitui, Kilifi and Samburu and Meru counties.
At least 85,000 people from the five counties have received food donations from the task force interventions.
According to the latest report from the National Drought Management Authority, Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir, Isiolo, Kitui and Kajiado Counties are in the alarm stage while Embu, Narok, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Meru, Nyeri and Lamu Counties are in the alert drought phase.
“I appreciate the partnerships that we are cultivating towards drought mitigation. The task ahead of us requires partnerships and wider participation by all citizens of Kenya,” Ndegwa said.
The drought continues to worsen in 21 of the 23 Arid and Semi-Arid counties.
This has been attributed to the four failed consecutive rain seasons and the late-onset and poorly distributed 2022 short rain season.
The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance currently stands at 4.35 million based on 2022 Long Rains Food and Nutritional Security Assessment Report.
