The government is mobilising development partners to join efforts to mitigate the effects of the ongoing drought, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.
Gachagua said the government has intensified interventions to reduce the suffering of Kenyans most affected by the prolonged dry spell.
Speaking at the National Prayer Day event at Nyayo National Stadium, the DP said the situation in the country is not getting any better.
"The prayer could not have come at a better time, 5.3 million Kenyans are facing starvation. The prayers are most appropriate," he said.
Present at the event were President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Attorney General Justin Muturi, First Lady Rachael Ruto, Gachagua's wife Dorcas and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja among other dignitaries.
Ruto had invited Kenyans to take some time on Valentine's Day and pray for the nation.
National Steering Committee on Drought Response has so far raised Sh650 million towards drought mitigation.
The amount has been raised two months after Ruto formed the team.
The funds raised by the task force 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.
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 the 2022 Long Rains Food and Nutritional Security Assessment Report.
