Government Flags Off Relief Food Distribution in Garissa as Drought Worsens

20 January 2026 - The Government on Tuesday flagged off relief food assistance and water trucking in Garissa County as part of drought response scale-up, aimed at protecting lives and livelihoods as drought conditions continue to worsen across Arid and Semi-Arid Lands  (ASALs).

The 50-kg 4,480 bags of rice and beans was flagged off by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Chief Executive Officer Col. (Rtd) Hared Adan, Garissa County Commissioner  Mohamed Mwabudzo and Garissa County CECM for Water Ahmed Ibrahim.

Speaking during the flag-off Tuesday morning outside the County Commissioner's compound, Adan said that at least 2.1 million Kenyans in 23 ASAL counties are in dire need of relief food assistance and that the government would continue to monitor the situation and put in place response measures to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people.

"The Government has activated drought response measures, focusing mainly on water access, food assistance, and protection of livelihoods. Over the past few months, NDMA, through the National Drought Emergency Fund, has supported drought response interventions valued at approximately KSh 40 million across Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, and Garissa counties," Adan said.

"These interventions form part of broader, coordinated national effort to stabilise conditions and prevent further deterioration. The measures complement cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme, alongside nutrition, health, and livelihood support being implemented in collaboration with county governments and partners," he added.

The interventions include water trucking to drought hotspots to stabilise access for households, fuel subsidies and repair of water facilities to sustain overstretched boreholes, provision of water storage tanks to improve storage capacity. We are currently procuring livestock feeds to protect core breeding herds in the most affected

Garissa County remains in the Alert drought phase 1, with poor and uneven recovery across much of the county.