The government has disbursed Sh517 million under the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) to 94,000 poor households in Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera and Turkana counties.

 National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) which is in charge of the programme, has also disbursed a further Sh150 million under the drought shock responsive cash transfer portfolio to an additional 55,699 households in Mandera, Marsabit and Wajir counties.

The cash disbursements are part of the larger Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project implemented by the government.

“Each household under the routine segment is entitled to Sh5,400 while those under the shock-responsive portfolio will receive Sh2,700. This will go a long way in ensuring food for the vulnerable households in the four counties, which are among the most affected by drought,” said NDMA chief executive officer Hared Adan.

In a food and nutrition security assessment report released in February, the counties of Marsabit, Turkana, Wajir, and Mandera are among those singled as having huge populations in dire need of relief assistance.

 At least eight counties are in the alarm stage of drought while nine are in the alert phase.  With a fourth consecutive failed season, many residents in the Arid and Semi-Arid counties are grappling with an unprecedented drought situation that has impacted negatively on their pastoral livelihood.

“The number of people in need of relief assistance has increased from 3.1 million in February to 3.5 million currently. The government has increased relief assistance with the help of other development partners,” said  Adan.

Beneficiaries will begin receiving their payments soon through Equity agents and branches within their regions.

 The payment, which is for the March-April cycle, has seen Mandera and Marsabit counties, with over 20,000 and 19,000 beneficiaries, receive Sh111 million and Sh107 million respectively while Wajir county with over 18,000 beneficiaries received Sh98 million.

“Turkana has the highest number of beneficiaries standing at over 36,000. This county has received Sh198 million in HSNP cash transfers,” Lt-Col (Rtd) Adan said.

Bring on board

 Since September 2021, the government has disbursed over Sh2.11 billion in cash transfers under HSNP and another Sh8.58 billion targeting the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children and people with severe disabilities.

 Adan also said that NDMA was currently undertaking registration of poor and vulnerable households in Isiolo, Garissa, Samburu, and Tana River counties with a view to bringing on board an additional 32,000 households under the HSNP.

 “We intend to bring on board as many households in the arid counties since these counties are most affected by drought. HSNP cash transfers reach about 26 per cent of the population in the programme counties,” he said.