The government has approved the immediate release of Sh2 billion to facilitate drought mitigation efforts in 13 counties which require immediate intervention.
As cases of hunger-related deaths emerged in some parts of arid regions, the national government, through Deputy President William Ruto, reported on Monday that it had disbursed up to Sh1.4 billion for response in February, March and April 2019.
The DP acknowledged that a total of 1,111,500 people in the 13 counties were facing starvation but insisted there was no cause for alarm as Kenya remains stable in matters food security.
“There is no cause for alarm as the situation is not as bad as it was two years ago,” he said when he appraised the nation on the status of the drought that has left at least four people dead.
Dr Ruto also announced that Sh12 billion has been released for 1.2 million beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme for the elderly in drought-stricken areas to buy food.
He urged counties to realign their budgets for emergency responses.
On Saturday, Kositei sub location Chief Jack Ronei confirmed that hunger-related deaths had been reported in Kamusuk, Kositei, and Seretion, and that four people had died. Hundreds of livestock have also perished due to lack of water and pasture.
A report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) blames the rising cases of food insecurity to below-average 2018 short rains, livestock diseases, invasions by pests and intercommunal fights in areas of northern Kenya where pastoral farming is practised.
“The below-average short rains have slightly increased the food insecure population from 655,800 in August 2018 to the current 1,111,500, with the top 12 counties having a total of 865,300 food-insecure people,” the NDMA report states.