Cabinet approves Sh4 billion for drought mitigation

Maize farmers in Uasin Gishu County dry maize near Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on November 20,2022. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Cabinet has approved Sh4 billion more to be allocated to the drought management kitty.

The approval was made after a Cabinet Meeting chaired by President William Ruto on February 28.

"Cabinet approved the appropriation of a further Sh4 Billion to the nation's drought alleviation programme," reads the dispatch.

More than four million Kenyans are facing starvation and lack access to water while more than 960,000 children are malnourished.

The cabinet also got a status report on the drought situation in the country and the support vulnerable households and school-going children were receiving.

The meeting observed that the State's humanitarian support actions towards the drought were being fortified through enhanced partnerships with our development partners.

This comes after U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gave Kenya a donation of Sh16 billion to aid in drought mitigation.

USAID said that it would also provide emergency food items such as maize, sorghum and cooking oil for families in dire need.