Gov't moves to reprogramme agriculture funds to combat worsening drought in ASAL regions

Speaking in Malindi after meeting with the Council of Governors' (CoG) Agriculture Committee and the ASAL Governors Caucus, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the drought response will be treated in an all-of-government approach, with livestock, crops and human livelihoods addressed as one interconnected system.

The discussions focused on the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). 

FSRP, funded by the World Bank, is currently being implemented in 13 counties classified as severely affected by drought, while NAVCDP covers the remaining 34 counties nationwide, ensuring both immediate drought response and longer-term agricultural value chain development across the country.

“We sit at a critical point where we must reprogramme these two programmes to respond to the current drought reality, while also putting in place permanent solutions to avert future crises,” CS Kagwe said.

Under the new approach, counties facing acute drought will receive immediate support, including the transportation of fodder, delivery of water to pastoral areas, and interventions to save livestock and protect households that depend on them. 

Some activities originally planned under the programmes will be paused, with funds reallocated to urgent drought mitigation needs.

Governors noted that several counties are already recording livestock losses due to prolonged lack of rainfall, underscoring the need for swift action. 

They also deliberated on directing at least 85 per cent of programme resources to on-the-ground impact rather than administrative costs.

CoG Agriculture Committee chair and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka said counties will play a central role in planning and implementation going forward, noting that donor-funded programmes must be jointly designed at national and county levels.

“Capacity-building funds must re-allocated. Going forward, resources will no longer be absorbed by recurrent expenditure,” Lusaka said.

ASAL Governors Chair and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama backed CS Kagwe's remarks that the programmes must recognise the unique characteristics of counties with dual climates and mixed livelihoods, warning against rigid classifications that limit opportunity.

“An area should not be defined by lack of rainfall alone. With irrigation, places like Garissa can become net producers, including in crops such as rice,”CS Kagwe said.

Leaders agreed that Kenya must reduce overreliance on rain-fed agriculture by scaling up irrigation, feedlots, strategic fodder reserves and storage facilities to cushion farmers during climate shocks.

Livestock disease control was also identified as a core pillar of both programmes, with renewed commitment to tackling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and advancing Kenya’s goal of becoming a tsetse-fly-free country—key steps for boosting livestock productivity and exports.

At the same time, the Kenya Agricultural Digital Integration Centre (KADIC) will be central to modernising the sector. 

Through digital platforms, counties will be linked on soil data, pest control, animal identification and vaccination records—systems expected to improve productivity, traceability and access to international markets.

The meeting also placed strong emphasis on youth inclusion, with leaders calling for deliberate integration of young people into both FSRP and NAVCDP.

“Young people must begin to see agriculture as modern, profitable and ‘cool’ especially in value addition,” CS Kagwe said, urging parents and communities to support youth participation across the value chain.

The talks also focused on the reprogramming of key World Bank–funded agriculture projects to prioritise immediate relief while laying foundations for lasting resilience.

As the drought deepens, the government and counties say the reprogrammed interventions will not only cushion affected communities but also help Kenya prepare in advance for future climate extremes.