Cabinet Secretary for East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, has coordinated the distribution of emergency relief food to drought-stricken families in Turkana County, as part of ongoing government efforts to cushion vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of drought.
The exercise took place in Lokichar, shortly after the Mazingira Day 2025 celebrations, where the Cabinet Secretary led a humanitarian response to support families in nearby villages hardest hit by food insecurity.
The distributed supplies are expected to provide much-needed relief to households struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.
CS Askul noted that the drought situation in Turkana remains severe, with prolonged dry spells destroying livelihoods, depleting water sources, and pushing thousands of households toward hunger and malnutrition.
“We are stepping up our efforts to ensure that no family goes to bed hungry. The government, in collaboration with partners, is committed to supporting affected communities until conditions improve,” she said.
Kenya has experienced one of the most prolonged and intense droughts in decades, following successive failed rainy seasons that have severely affected pastoralist and farming communities across the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
In the Horn of Africa region, countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and parts of Uganda face similar conditions, with millions of people in need of food assistance and livelihood support.
The government, through the Ministry of EAC, ASALs and Regional Development, continues to coordinate multi-agency interventions, including food distribution, water trucking, and livestock support programmes, to mitigate the impact of the crisis and help communities build long-term resilience against climate shocks.