National Government Dispatches Relief Food to Makueni Amid Worsening Drought

The National Government has sent relief food to Makueni County to assist residents grappling with severe food shortages caused by the failure of the short rainy season.

The consignment, comprising 3,000 bags of maize and 2,600 bags of beans, each weighing 50 kilograms, has been distributed to the ten most affected sub-counties. Beneficiary areas include Makueni, Mbooni East, Mbooni West, Kilungu, and Mukaa, alongside Nzaui, Kathozweni, Makindu, Kibwezi, and Kambua.

Makueni County Commissioner Khalif Abdullai said each sub-county received 300 bags of maize and 260 bags of beans as part of the government’s enhanced efforts to avert hunger-related deaths.

“The government is committed to ensuring that no Kenyan dies of starvation. This food is intended to provide immediate relief to households facing acute shortages,” Mr. Abdullai said.

He noted that crops planted in early September were severely affected after the anticipated October, November, and December rains failed or were poorly distributed across the county. As a result, many farmers suffered total crop failure, worsening food insecurity in the region.

“It should be noted that the much-anticipated rains of October, November, and December have largely failed. In areas where some rain fell, it was unevenly distributed,” Mr. Abdullai added.

The county commissioner attributed the crisis to erratic rainfall patterns during the short rainy season, which left thousands of families vulnerable and dependent on relief support.

Government agencies are continuing to monitor the situation and scale up emergency response measures as the drought persists. Residents and local leaders have also called for long-term interventions, including expanded irrigation schemes and the promotion of drought-resistant crops, to enhance food security and reduce reliance on relief aid in the future.