The government has allocated Sh6 billion to support drought response efforts across the country as part of measures aimed at cushioning vulnerable communities, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking on Wednesday while co-chairing the 14th Development Partners Forum at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, Kindiki said the government had put in place adequate interventions to mitigate the impact of the ongoing drought, particularly in the hard-hit Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties.
The Deputy President urged Kenyans to remain calm, assuring them that the situation was under control and that sufficient resources had been mobilised to address the crisis.
“The government has made arrangements to ensure that we provide enough food to all the affected people and also to save their livestock from demise because of the drought. There should be no panic in the country,” Kindiki said.
He revealed that the Sh6 billion allocation is already supporting emergency response measures, including food assistance, water provision and livestock protection.
In addition, the government is committing Sh4 billion every month to sustain the response, while appealing to development partners and other stakeholders to enhance their support.
According to the Deputy President, the drought has affected more than 20 counties, with ASAL regions bearing the greatest impact. He said the government is seeking to bridge a Sh2 billion monthly funding gap through increased assistance from development partners to ensure a comprehensive response.
Kindiki added that authorities are taking steps to protect livestock, a key source of livelihood in affected areas, by assembling adequate stocks of hay, vaccines and water to prevent large-scale losses as dry conditions persist.
The Development Partners Forum brought together senior government officials, county leaders and international partners to review the drought situation and coordinate response efforts. The meeting was co-chaired by United Nations Resident Coordinator Stephen Jackson and Germany’s Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth.
Council of Governors Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi called for urgent and sustained intervention, warning that the effects of the drought were spreading beyond traditionally vulnerable regions into non-ASAL counties through rising food prices, water stress and disrupted livelihoods.
The forum was attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors, ambassadors and representatives of development agencies.
