A KSh1.34 billion investment is set to strengthen drought resilience and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in Marsabit and Turkana counties, two of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.
The funding will support interventions designed to help communities better withstand the effects of recurrent drought, climate variability and water scarcity.
Marsabit and Turkana frequently experience prolonged dry spells, placing significant pressure on water resources, livestock, food production and household incomes. Strengthening resilience in these counties is therefore closely linked to improving access to reliable water sources and developing sustainable approaches to managing scarce resources.
The investment is expected to support drought-resilience initiatives targeting communities whose livelihoods are highly dependent on livestock, agriculture and natural resources. Such interventions can help communities prepare for periods of water stress while reducing their vulnerability to future climate shocks.
For pastoralist communities in particular, access to dependable water is critical. During prolonged droughts, shrinking water sources force people and livestock to travel longer distances in search of water and pasture, increasing pressure on existing resources.
Investment in water infrastructure, climate-smart livelihoods and community-based resource management can provide a more sustainable response than relying solely on emergency drought relief.
The funding comes at a time when climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather extremes across many parts of Kenya. For the country’s arid and semi-arid lands, building resilience requires integrated planning that connects water security, food security, livestock production and environmental management.
The experience of Marsabit and Turkana also highlights a broader challenge facing Kenya: how to ensure that water infrastructure and services remain reliable in areas where rainfall is highly variable and communities are geographically dispersed.
As Kenya continues to pursue climate adaptation and water-security investments, initiatives that strengthen local capacity, protect water sources and improve access to dependable supplies will remain essential to safeguarding livelihoods in drought-prone regions.
The KSh1.34 billion investment therefore represents more than a response to the immediate effects of drought. It forms part of the wider effort to build communities that can better anticipate, withstand and recover from climate-related shocks.
