The Kenyan government has announced a significant change in its drought response strategy, replacing food rations with cash transfers for vulnerable households in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
Starting next month, households in ASALs will receive a stipend of Sh3,000, while individuals will receive Sh2,000 every two months. The cash transfers will target 369,000 households and 734,119 individuals.
Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia explained that the shift in policy aims to increase efficiency and accountability. "I am happy to report that, arising from today's meeting, development partners have agreed to support government efforts to mobilise resources to address gaps in drought response and resilience building in ASALs," she said.
Prof Kobia added that data and phone details of intended recipients have been captured in a registry, and those without cell phones will be facilitated by their chiefs. The government has already provided over Sh1.5 billion to assist affected households with food and other commodities.
Sh1.2 billion has been allocated for the purchase and distribution of food to 2.5 million people in 23 ASAL counties, while Sh450 million has been disbursed to the Kenya Defence Forces for livestock off-take and distribution of livestock feed. Additionally, Sh350 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation for water trucking, and Sh500 million has been given to the National Disaster Management Authority for drought emergency response in non-food interventions.
Prof Kobia warned that 12 counties are on the verge of sliding from the alert to alarm phase, and forecasts indicate that 2.5 million people will remain food-insecure between November and December. To address this impending crisis, the government has identified priority needs in key sectors amounting to Sh7.3 billion.
"I assure the country that the government is focused and is firmly on the right trajectory towards winning the war against negative impacts of drought," Prof Kobia said.
