State ramps up support for families and livestock in drought ravaged zones
DICKSON MWITI-KNA
The Government has pledged to continue distributing relief food to drought-stricken regions until conditions improve, Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has announced.
Speaking in Chuka, CS Ruku emphasized that the Ministry has implemented comprehensive measures to ensure no Kenyan suffers from hunger during the ongoing drought.
He noted that several counties—including Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, Tana River, and Taita-Taveta—are among the hardest hit, with families and livestock facing severe shortages of food and water.
“The government has already secured sufficient food reserves to feed every Kenyan affected by the prevailing drought, as well as their livestock,” said Ruku.
To ensure fair and efficient distribution, the CS explained that National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and other local leaders will oversee the process.
He reassured citizens that the programme will remain continuous and urged them not to be swayed by misinformation from those on the opposition side.
The CS further stressed the importance of long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change, calling on Kenyans to embrace environmental conservation practices, particularly tree planting and landscape restoration, as a way of reducing vulnerability to future droughts.
“As a nation, we must rise to the challenge of climate change. Planting trees in public spaces and on private land is a critical step toward ensuring we do not face similar crises in the future,” he said.
He revealed that the government is planning major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing water security and agricultural resilience including the construction of mega dams and the expansion of irrigation schemes through the infrastructure fund.
Such initiatives, he added, will help transform arid and semi-arid lands into productive agricultural zones, reducing dependence on relief food in the long run.