The US government has given Kenya a grant of Sh16 billion ($126 million) to help fight the effects of drought and boost food security, following the recent visit by US First Lady Jill Biden. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aims to help over 1.3 million Kenyans who are most affected by the drought, particularly in the arid and semi-arid counties. The grant will provide emergency food items such as sorghum, maize, yellow split peas, and vegetable oil to families living in areas where local markets are not functioning.
The funds come at a critical time when Kenya is experiencing a sixth consecutive failed rainy season, leading to poor farm yields and an increase in food insecurity. President William Ruto expressed gratitude to the US government for its support.
The US has provided nearly $310 million in humanitarian assistance to Kenya in 2022 alone, but calls on other donors to step up and provide assistance to alleviate the suffering of millions of people across the Horn of Africa who face the threat of starvation due to the drought.
The Kenyan government has set aside Sh6 billion in the latest Supplementary Budget to respond to the drought between February and May, supplemented by the National Drought Response Committee, which has raised Sh650 million. However, more than Sh15.35 billion is required for urgent life-saving interventions, according to the president.
