CS Ruku says govt has enough food reserves for drought response
By Cy Muganda, February 13, 2026Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has assured Kenyans that the government has sufficient food reserves to support communities affected by the ongoing drought, saying no one should lose their life because of hunger.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, February 13, 2026, Ruku said the government was already on the ground in drought-hit areas to ensure affected families access food and nutrition supplements, even as it works with partners to reinforce strategic food reserves.
“We’re on the ground to ensure Kenyans affected by the biting drought access food and nutrition supplements. No Kenyan should die because of hunger. The government has enough food in the stores to deliver to all Kenyans in need,” Ruku said.
Multi-agency coordination
According to Ruku, the Ministry, through the State Department for Special Programmes, was coordinating a multi-agency response to identify affected households and livestock, and to deliver essential support.
“The Ministry through the State Department for Special Programmes is also working with elected and community leaders, relevant agencies such as regional water agencies, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to identify affected individuals, families and livestock affected and to deliver food, water, fodder and other necessities to buttress communities from the adverse effects of drought,” he stated.
He added that the State was collaborating with humanitarian partners to strengthen its response capacity as the dry spell continues to affect livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions.
“We’re working with humanitarian partners and friends to reinforce our strategic food reserves,” he said.
Govt preparedness
His remarks come amid criticism that the government had been slow to respond to the worsening drought situation in parts of the country.
Speaking during an interview with a local media house on Friday, February 13, 2026, Ruku dismissed allegations that the government waited for the deepening drought and food security situation to escalate into a disaster.
“The government did not wait for the drought to be a disaster. We knew, and that is why we kept on preparing from July last year, and we have data to support that,” Ruku said.
“The government has not been caught flat-footed as far as the drought is concerned. In the counties which are severely affected, distribution of food is done twice every month, and it is a huge amount of food,” he added.