The Government has disbursed cash transfers to cushion vulnerable households affected by severe drought and economic hardship in eight Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties, as part of ongoing efforts to address worsening food insecurity and protect livelihoods.
Speaking through his official social media platforms, Principal Secretary for the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development Kello Harsama said the support is being delivered through the National Drought Management Authority under the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP).
“The Government, through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), has disbursed cash transfers to support vulnerable households affected by severe drought and economic hardship across eight Arid and Semi-Arid Counties,” said Harsama.
He noted that the funds cover the period from July to November 2025 and are reaching households in Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Garissa and Tana River counties.
These areas continue to experience heightened food insecurity following consecutive seasons of below-average rainfall that have eroded household coping capacities.
In addition to the cash disbursements, the Principal Secretary said the Government is strengthening longer-term social protection and resilience-building measures for ASAL communities.
He disclosed that, together with Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul Moe, he met with HSNP field teams in Nairobi, including County Coordinators and Programme Officers, to review programme implementation and receive a detailed briefing on the Second Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP2).
According to Harsama, KSEIP2 is designed to enhance the economic resilience of poor and vulnerable households while strengthening Kenya’s adaptive social protection systems to better respond to shocks such as drought and economic stress.
The meeting was also attended by NDMA Board Chairman Shallow Abdullahi Yahya, NDMA Chief Executive Officer Lt. Col. (Rtd) Hared Hassan Adan, and Board Member Gilbert Tenai.
The leadership reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to coordinated action and effective programme delivery aimed at building a more resilient and inclusive future for communities across ASAL regions.
The cash transfers form part of a broader, whole-of-government response to drought that combines immediate humanitarian support with medium- and long-term investments in resilience, livelihoods and social protection for Kenya’s most vulnerable populations.