Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with leaders from the Northeastern region at the Karen residency, Nairobi on January 9, 2026/DPCS

The government has begun moving food and essential supplies to counties experiencing drought-related shortages following the poor performance of the short rains, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.

Kindiki, who spoke on Friday in Karen after meeting leaders from Mandera County, noted that several arid and semi-arid areas are already showing signs of worsening food and nutrition stress.

“We have mobilised adequate food and non-food essentials for urgent delivery to parts of the country experiencing shortages as a result of adverse weather and low precipitation in the just-ended short rains,” the Deputy President said.

Pastoralist communities are also set to receive additional support aimed at protecting their livestock, a key economic resource in northern Kenya. 

“These areas will be supported with fodder, water and animal offtake to minimise drought-occasioned financial losses to livestock keepers,” he said.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with leaders from the Northeastern region at the Karen residency, Nairobi on January 9, 2026/DPCS

Kindiki met Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Members of the National Assembly from the county to receive updates on the situation on the ground and discuss coordinated response measures. 

He said the government had already taken steps to cushion households and protect livestock in the region.

“I updated them on the measures the Government has taken to cushion the people of Mandera County and their livestock from the vagaries of drought,” he said.

The Deputy President’s office said the multi-agency drought response team will continue monitoring conditions in affected areas and scaling up interventions where necessary. 

The national relief effort includes collaboration with county governments, the National Drought Management Authority, security agencies and humanitarian partners.

Northern Kenya and parts of Eastern region have faced recurrent drought cycles in recent years, with the latest meteorological reports warning that depressed rainfall could persist in some counties through early 2026.

Leaders from the Northeastern region during a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at the Karen residency, Nairobi on January 9, 2026/DPCS