Mandera County Rolls Out Emergency Food Aid for 15,000 Households as Drought Deepens
Mandera County has launched a major emergency drought-relief food distribution programme targeting at least 15,000 vulnerable households, amid rapidly worsening drought conditions across northern Kenya.
The initiative, unveiled in Mandera town, is fully funded and implemented by the county government. It aims to cushion the urban poor, persons with disabilities, religious leaders (Ulamas), and other vulnerable groups across all 12 sub-counties.
The county is currently in the alarm stage of drought, following the poor 2025 long-rains season that resulted in severe water shortages, poor pasture regeneration, and reduced livestock productivity — critical threats to the region’s pastoral economy.
Recent assessments classify Mandera under IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) food insecurity, with projections showing a worsening situation as below-average short rains are forecast for October–December 2025.
Between July and September, an estimated 287,700 residents needed urgent food assistance. This number is expected to rise to over 335,000 people by January 2026 if drought conditions persist.
The relief distribution will be coordinated by the Department of Social Services, Special Programmes and Disaster Risk Management, working with local administrators and community representatives to ensure transparent and equitable delivery.
County officials say the programme reflects a commitment to protect vulnerable families, restore dignity, and prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions. The county leadership also acknowledged the critical role of local communities and staff in planning and executing the initiative.
This marks one of Mandera’s largest county-funded humanitarian responses this year, coming as national and regional drought monitors warn of escalating food insecurity across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).