The Kenyan government has appealed for over Ksh13 billion to address a hunger crisis affecting more than two million people due to prolonged drought. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki made the call during a high-level meeting on December 16, 2025, emphasizing urgent needs in 32 food-insecure counties, with 10 facing critical conditions. Without swift intervention, the situation could worsen in early 2026.
Prolonged drought has pushed 2.1 million Kenyans into food insecurity, with 32 counties affected and 10 classified as critical: Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Marsabit, Kwale, Kajiado, Isiolo, and Tana River. In Wajir, one of the hardest-hit areas, families face severe shortages as livestock die from lack of water and grazing land. Other regions like Narok, Samburu, Turkana, and Meru risk deteriorating further.
Deputy President Kindiki, speaking at a meeting with humanitarian organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives, outlined the funding requirements. "About 2.1 million people in Kenya are food insecure at the moment. 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. The government needs Ksh7 billion for the next three months on human interventions, including food assistance, nutrition, health services, and water supply, plus Ksh6 billion for 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," Kindiki added.
A Kenya Meteorological Department report warns of a drier December with poor rainfall in northeastern and coastal areas, exacerbating the crisis. To counter long-term risks, President William Ruto announced a national water and irrigation plan in his recent State of the Nation address. This includes building 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams, and thousands of microdams to irrigate 2.5 million acres over five to seven years. Projects will span from High Grand Falls in Mandera to Soin Koru in Kisumu, aiming to transform arid zones into agricultural hubs and enhance food security.