Cabinet Authorises Release of Ksh4.1 Billion for Northern Kenya Drought Response
Gachagua stated that Ksh1,200 per person works out to Ksh1,200 per person which stands far below the UN minimum food basket worth Ksh2,700.
President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting in State House, Nairobi on February 10, 2026. PHoto/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Cabinet dispatch describes the funds as resources to help 3.3 million people throughout the country who currently face severe food shortages during the ongoing main drought period which is expected to worsen.
The Cabinet announced that 3.6 million people will require support by June 2026 without immediate action to address their needs.
Mandera, Wajir, Kwale and Kilifi counties are currently classified under the alarm phase while 12 others remain on alert. The alert status applies to Garissa, Tana River, Marsabit, Turkana, Meru North, Samburu and Isiolo regions.
The crisis has resulted in rising acute malnutrition cases which have affected more than 810,000 children and 104,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and other vulnerable groups.
The approved budget will supplement earlier funding which was allocated in December 2025 and January 2026 to support food distribution and logistics operations while providing limited non-food assistance.
The Cabinet statement said Current stocks which are expected to last only two to three weeks require immediate additional support.
The drought situation has worsened significantly since January 2026 following the failure of the October–December 2025 short rains.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized the allocation because he argued that the funds fall short of meeting the extensive needs which require solution.
Gachagua urged President William Ruto to declare the drought a national disaster during his media statement at the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) offices in Nairobi because he claimed that at least 10 counties are in critical condition.
He declared that the allocated funds do not meet the United Nations standards required to assist 3.3 million Kenyan citizens who require support.
Gachagua stated that Ksh1,200 per person works out to Ksh1,200 per person which stands far below the UN minimum food basket worth Ksh2,700.
The DCP leader criticized the government for wasting resources and mismanaging funds while citizens face extreme drought conditions.
The funding approval comes directly before President Ruto’s scheduled three-day Northern Kenya tour.
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