The State Department for Special Programmes (SDSP) has appealed for an additional KSh 19.3 billion in emergency funding to avert a worsening humanitarian crisis as drought conditions intensify across Kenya.
Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Regional Development chaired by Peter Lochakapong at Parliament, PS Ismail Maalim Madey warned that current allocations are insufficient to meet rising humanitarian needs driven by climate shocks.
Inadequate Emergency Relief Funding
Madey noted that the department has only been allocated KSh 162.8 million for emergency food assistance in FY 2026/27, a figure he termed inadequate compared to escalating demand.
He said the government had earlier invoked Article 223 of the Constitution to approve KSh 12.65 billion in emergency spending during the current financial year, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
The PS said Parliament is being asked to consider KSh 14 billion within the printed estimates for relief operations, alongside KSh 5 billion to operationalise and maintain the Strategic Food Reserve, which currently lacks funding despite its importance in cushioning vulnerable populations during shortages.
Operational and Staffing Constraints
He further raised concerns over institutional weaknesses, noting that SDSP is operating with only nine technical officers against an approved establishment of 62, while also seeking KSh 317 million to decongest overcrowded offices in compliance with occupational safety regulations.
Madey also flagged governance challenges in the National Drought Emergency Fund (NDEF), stating that although it is domiciled under the State Department for Special Programmes, it is administered by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), limiting oversight.
He added that development allocations had been reduced significantly, creating a funding shortfall that hampers programme delivery.
Despite constraints, the department reported a 99 per cent budget absorption rate and confirmed settlement of KSh 1.1 billion in pending bills.
Committee Deliberations and Policy Concerns
Committee members, including Gathoni Wamuchomba, Julius Mawathe, and Alio Maalim Hassan, urged increased funding, improved coordination with the Interior Ministry, and stronger safeguards against politicisation of relief distribution.
As Parliament deliberates on the budget estimates, the decision on the KSh 19.3 billion request is expected to shape Kenya’s disaster preparedness and food security response amid recurring droughts.
The Departmental Committee is expected to finalise its report before submitting it to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will table recommendations in the National Assembly for debate and approval, a process that will determine the scale of funding for Kenya’s drought response operations going.
