April 17, 2026
Gov't Requests Ksh13 Billion Well-Wisher Funding For Hunger Crisis

Gov’t Requests Ksh13 Billion Well-Wisher Funding For Hunger Crisis

The government has requested financial assistance from private companies and human rights organizations to solve a growing food crisis that has affected over two million Kenyans as a result of a prolonged drought.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki stated that the government required more than Ksh13 billion to assist urgent humanitarian and livestock operations.

The DP spoke on Tuesday, December 16, at a high-level meeting attended by humanitarian organisations, development partners, and private sector officials.

Kindiki said that at least 32 counties were now experiencing food insecurity, with ten designated as critical due to extreme drought conditions.

“About 2.1 million people in Kenya are food insecure at the moment,” Kindiki noted.

“Weather forecasts indicate that the short rains are likely to come to an end by the end of 2025. The situation may persist or worsen in January, February, and March.”

He stated that the government needed Ksh7 billion over the next three months for human-related activities.

These include food assistance, nutrition, health services, water supplies, and Ksh6 billion in livestock support.

“The intervention we require for the next three months is human-related interventions for food, nutrition, and health-related, including water, and then livestock-related interventions,” the DP stated.

The ten counties in critical condition are Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Marsabit, Kwale, Kajiado, Isiolo, and Tana River.

Wajir County has been classified as one of the most severely affected places, with households struggling to get food while cattle perish owing to dried-up water sources and decreased grazing fields.

Other counties, such as Narok, Samburu, Turkana, and Meru, are also at risk of reaching critical levels if the drought continues.

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The administration stressed that immediate action is essential to avoid loss of life.

They also claimed that impacted counties require immediate assistance with food, water, and healthcare services, as drought continues to endanger lives in arid and semi-arid areas.

A recent report by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) warned of a drier December, characterised by poor rainfall distribution and prolonged dry spells, particularly in the northeastern and coastal regions.

President William Ruto, during the recent State of the Nation address, outlined a sweeping water and irrigation plan to boost food security and mitigate food insecurity risks.

Gov’t Requests Ksh13 Billion Well-Wisher Funding For Hunger Crisis

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