Food relief operation kicks off in Northern Kenya amid worsening dry spell
The initiative follows a planning meeting held the previous week under the chairmanship of Ruku to set out urgent measures to tackle the drought crisis.
The government has begun distributing food aid to drought-stricken areas, flagging off the first relief trucks to Mandera and Turkana counties in a major operation aimed at cushioning communities facing worsening hunger.
The exercise was led in Nairobi by Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, marking the start of a wider intervention that will cover all 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties.
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The flag-off at the National Cereals and Produce Board depot was attended by lawmakers from the two counties, senior officials, and representatives from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department.
The initiative follows a planning meeting held the previous week under the chairmanship of Ruku to set out urgent measures to tackle the drought crisis.
Current NDMA data shows that 2.15 million people across ASAL counties urgently need food aid, as forecasts predict below-average rains during the upcoming short rains season. With dry conditions expected to persist, the government is focusing on rapid food distribution to reach the most affected households.
The relief package includes 6,600 bags of maize for Turkana, 7,200 bags of rice for Mandera, and 8,840 bags of beans to be shared between the two counties.
The ministry says this supply will feed about 204,600 residents in Turkana and 287,700 in Mandera.
Before the trucks left Nairobi, Ruku inspected the food reserves at NCPB stores to ensure there was adequate stock for the response.
He confirmed that the government has enough food and systems in place to deliver support to all affected regions.
“The government has adequate food in stock and logistics in place to ensure every affected community receives timely support. We are rolling out relief efforts across all 23 drought-affected counties to reach those most in need,” Ruku said.
Legislators from Mandera and Turkana welcomed the intervention, describing it as essential for sustaining families in remote areas where access is difficult.
They praised the speed of the government’s response to the growing food crisis.
CS Ruku also pointed out that while relief food is crucial for immediate survival, lasting solutions are necessary to end repeated drought emergencies.
He said the government is expanding investment in irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-resilient agriculture to build stronger community resilience in arid regions.
“Relief food is essential in the short term, but it is not sustainable. We are committed to long-term solutions that empower communities and reduce dependency on aid, the CS said.
He called on development partners, county governments, ministries, NGOs, and private actors to work together in supporting affected populations.
“We must all come together, government, private sector, NGOs, and local leaders, to make sure no Kenyan sleeps hungry,” he stated.
The government has promised to scale up relief operations in the coming weeks to reach every drought-hit county, as trucks carrying the first consignment set off for the northern parts of the country.
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