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Stacks of maize at the Eldoret National Cereals and Produce Board depot. [File, Standard]
The Government has warned that current food relief stocks will last only 2 to 3 weeks, even as 3.3 million people face acute food insecurity.
Mandera, Wajir, Kwale, and Kilifi counties remain in the Alarm phase, while 12 other counties are in the Alert phase, most of which are on a worsening trajectory.
Acute malnutrition affects more than 810,000 children and 104,000 pregnant and lactating women.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who chaired a high-level Cabinet meeting in Nairobi, said the State has mobilised resources to support affected communities.
“Many counties need food for the people and livestock feed. We are tirelessly working on effective last-mile delivery of food so it does not take long to reach the people. We are also trucking water to the people and livestock,” said Kindiki.
The Cabinet authorised Sh4.1 billion on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to scale up drought relief, supplementing allocations made in December 2025 and January 2026.
Officials said the funding will help sustain food, water and medical supplies while longer-term measures take effect.
At the same time, the Agriculture ministry has flagged off the 2026 Long Rains National Fertiliser Subsidy Programme to support farmers during the planting season.
Principal Secretary Dr Paul Kiprono Rono said the Government will transport fertiliser to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
“The fertiliser will be delivered to NCPB depots through the Standard Gauge Railway to ensure timely and efficient distribution to farmers,” noted Rono.
Farmers will collect the inputs from depots across the country, including Thika, Sagana, Karatina, Kiganjo, Nanyuki, Naivasha, Nakuru, Elburgon, Kipkelion, Butere, Kipkarren River, Yala, Turbo, Webuye, Bungoma and Malaba.
Intermodal links between the SGR and the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) at facilities such as Mai Mahiu Station and the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) will ease movement and storage.
