By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI

The Kenyan government on Monday warned that at least 1.6 million Kenyans were at risk of starvation due to prolonged drought in the East African country.

"The rains started late and ended early [this year]," Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Ann Waiguru told reporters.

"The amount of rainfall was less than normal and its distribution in space and time was generally poor," she added.

Waiguru said the areas that had experienced extremely poor rainfall this year were in the pastoral zones of the country's north and northeast and the marginal agricultural zones in the southeast.

In affected areas, she added, pasture and water had both been depleted, leading to the death of numerous animals in the region.

Pastoralists in Kenya live mainly on milk, blood and meat that they get from the livestock they raise.

Citing an assessment conducted between Jan. 26 and Feb. 6, Waiguru asserted that more than a million Kenyans were at risk of starvation. 

"The assessment found that at least 1.63 million people were acutely food insecure and would require immediate assistance over the next six months," she added.

Waiguru said that, in order to address the situation, the government would disburse 279 million Kenyan shillings (roughly $3 million) from a drought contingency fund to 16 counties of Kenya for the implementation of contingency plans.

"Further disbursements will be made upon the request of affected counties," she added.

Waiguru said her government, together with the World Food Program, would continue to provide food and funding to over 691,800 beneficiaries in 13 affected counties.