In a race against time to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, the government has released Sh870 million (approx. US$6.7 million) to support vulnerable families in eight counties currently choked by a relentless drought.

The disbursement, channeled through the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP), comes as a critical stopgap measure for over 132,000 households in the North and North Eastern regions, where pastures have withered and water sources have run dry. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has termed the situation "dire but manageable" if action is sustained.

"Drought is Coming"

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe issued a stark warning: "We know for a fact that a drought is coming." The government is shifting from reactive aid to proactive resilience. The funds are being distributed via equity Bank and KCB to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries directly, bypassing the bureaucratic leakage that has plagued relief efforts in the past.

The cash transfer targets the most vulnerable: the elderly, orphans, and persons with severe disabilities. Beneficiary counties include Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Garissa, and Tana River.

• The Allocation: Turkana County receives the lion's share at Sh287 million, followed by Marsabit at Sh151 million.
• The Commitment: The state has pledged a further Sh4 billion monthly to sustain the relief efforts as the dry spell intensifies.
• New Strategy: Beyond food, the government is establishing animal feed reserves to save livestock, the economic backbone of the ASAL regions.

A Recurring Nightmare

While the cash is a welcome relief, leaders from the region are calling for long-term solutions like dams and irrigation projects. "We cannot survive on handouts every two years," said a Mandera elder. "We need water, not just maize."

As the sun beats down on the scorched earth of Wajir, the Sh5,400 stipend per household will buy food for a few weeks. But without rain, or a permanent solution to the climate crisis, the cycle of hunger remains Kenya's most persistent shame.