The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development, has launched the second phase of the Common Programme Framework for Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE CPF II), a bold 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at transitioning the country from reactive drought crisis management to proactive risk reduction and resilience building.
The high-level event, held in Nairobi on Tuesday, brought together government officials, Governors, Heads of Mission, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
EAC Cabinet Secretary Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe led the launch, reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing the devastating effects of droughts, particularly in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which cover more than 80 percent of Kenya’s landmass.
“Between 2021 and 2023 alone, Kenya spent over KSh 71 billion on drought response efforts—resources that could have otherwise supported long-term development,” said CS Moe. “Droughts have become more frequent, severe, and prolonged, affecting between 1.5 and 4.9 million Kenyans every year.”
According to government data, approximately 5 million Kenyans are affected annually by drought, with ASAL counties bearing the greatest burden. The EDE CPF II seeks to build upon the foundation laid during the first phase of the initiative (2013–2022), which established vital drought risk management systems and brought together national and county governments, development partners, and private sector actors.
The newly launched framework is anchored on three strategic pillars including drought risk management, investment in development and resilience, and institutional coordination to end drought emergencies by 2032.
CS Moe emphasized that the approach under EDE CPF II is integrated and inclusive, developed through wide-ranging consultations involving ministries, counties, civil society, and the private sector.
“This initiative recognizes that drought emergencies are rooted in deeper issues of poverty, inequity, and under-investment. These cannot be addressed in silos—they require cross-sectoral collaboration,” she noted.
The Chair of Council of Governors Ahmed Abdullahi applauded the progress made under devolution, citing key interventions such as borehole drilling and other water infrastructure projects as critical in cushioning communities from drought impacts. He also called for enhanced resource allocation and industrial development in ASALs to unlock the regions’ economic potential.
“We are not working in isolation. ASALs have a unique role to play in national development. The success of this framework depends on how well we align ministries, counties, and other stakeholders toward a common vision,” Abdullahi stated.
In her closing remarks, CS Moe thanked the National Drought Management Authority and development partners for their continued support and called on all stakeholders to commit not just in word but in action.
“Let us reimagine ASALs—not as vulnerable regions, but as frontiers for inclusive and sustainable growth,” she urged.
The EDE CPF II will guide national and county efforts through to 2032, with a focus on embedding drought resilience into key planning frameworks and mobilizing both public and private investment to end drought emergencies in Kenya once and for all.