The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 800,000 people across 23 counties needing urgent food assistance following inadequate 2018 short rains, with projections showing this could increase to 1.1 million if March rains remain insufficient.
NDMA technical services director Sunya Orre revealed that Sh34.2 billion is required for intervention measures to address the worsening food security crisis. This comes as the agency reported stable national food security compared to 2017, but deteriorating conditions in pastoral and marginal agricultural regions.
Orre highlighted that the situation worsened in February 2019 after the October-December 2018 rains failed to meet expectations. Since January, the NDMA has allocated Sh75.7 million to affected households, including Sh10.4 million to Garissa and Sh7.4 million to Wajir counties.
Additional funding has been directed toward drought shock-responsive cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme. Sh57.6 million was distributed to 21,344 households in Turkana and Wajir counties in January 2019, while Sh541 million reached 100,000 vulnerable households in Marsabit, Turkana, Wajir, and Mandera counties.
Agricultural experts caution that livestock prices may rise if the drought persists. Piers Simpkin of the Food and Agricultural Organisation advised farmers to capitalize on current high market prices rather than selling during the drought when values drop.
The Kenya Food Security Steering Group, comprising government agencies, UN bodies, and NGOs, continues monitoring drought impacts, malnutrition levels, and agricultural challenges over the next six months.
