The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) disbursed Ksh422,458,200 for August's monthly cash transfers to households across eight arid counties.
In a statement on Monday, September 22, the Authority's CEO, Hared Adan, said that the funds will be disbursed to 132,779 households in Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Garissa, and Tana River Counties.
Each household in these counties will receive Ksh2,700, which will enable the vulnerable households to purchase food and other basic needs.
Beneficiaries of the funds have been urged to visit their local bank branches and agents in the respective counties to access the funds.
Additionally, individuals who have pending payment issues have been urged to visit these banks and update their details in order to access the funds.
"The government, through NDMA_Kenya, has disbursed KSh 422,458,200 as cash transfers to 132,779 beneficiary households under the Hunger Safety Net Programme across eight arid counties," the authority stated.
"HSNP provides monthly cash transfers to poor & vulnerable households in the 8 arid counties, offering consumption support to cushion families against the impacts of drought and climate-related shocks," it added.
In Turkana, 39,831 households will benefit from over Ksh107 million; 22,107 in Mandera will receive Ksh59 million, 20,387 households in Marsabit are set to receive Ksh55 million, and in Wajir, 19,171 households will receive Ksh51 million.
9,217 households in Garissa will receive Ksh24 million, 8,118 households in Samburu will benefit from Ksh21 million, 7,329 households in Tana River will receive Ksh19 million, and 6,619 households in Isiolo will receive Ksh17 million.
According to the CEO, the funds are part of the Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP), which is under the Inua Jamii Social Protection programme.
The funds will play a key role in cushioning families in these counties against drought and other climate-related impacts, according to the authority.
"As one of the Government’s flagship social protection initiatives, HSNP aims to reduce poverty and hunger, while building household resilience to shocks," the statement read.
"The targeted eight counties are among those most affected by drought, which continually undermines livelihoods and coping capacities," it added.
