Home » Government’s Drought Response Intervention in Ganze, Kilifi County

Government’s Drought Response Intervention in Ganze, Kilifi County

By Neville Ng’ambwa

Kilifi, Kenya – In response to the escalating drought crisis in Kilifi County, Beatrice Askul Moe, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development, launched a multifaceted drought response initiative to support vulnerable communities. The event in Ganze Sub-county underscored the government’s dedication to addressing the immediate needs of the region’s most affected residents.

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Askul highlighted the severity of the drought situation, noting that Kilifi County has remained in the “Alert” drought phase since July 2024. The poor performance of the March to May rains has left approximately 78,800 people food insecure, with Ganze, Kaloleni, and Magarini sub-counties being the hardest hit. Ganze Sub-county is bearing the brunt of the crisis, with over 19,000 people in need of urgent relief.

Challenges on the Ground and Community Resilience


Addressing the gathering, Retired Lt. Colonel Hared Hassan commended the strong collaboration between the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and local leadership. “The local leadership has played a crucial role in highlighting the realities on the ground, enabling us to act swiftly,” he said. He also announced that the NDMA is working on rehabilitating the Ndigiria Water Pan in Ganze to improve water access and is constructing larger pans with greater catchment areas to ensure water storage for extended periods.

Residents of Ndigiria village, including mothers like Rachael Charo, have expressed their gratitude for the government’s interventions. Charo, who walks nearly 30 kilometers to access fresh water, shared her relief over the NDMA’s water trucking program. “It has been a huge help to us, bringing water closer to our homes,” she said while carrying her one-and-a-half-year-old child on her back. She recalled the days when the Ndigiria Water Pan was functional, allowing them to farm along the banks, providing food for their families. She hopes the repairs by the NDMA will restore those better days.

The Story of Ndigiria Water Pan: A Beacon of Hope
The history of the Ndigiria Water Pan is a source of pride for the local community. Samuel Kahindi Gogo, a resident of Ndigiria and a committee member overseeing the water pan, shared its significance.
“In the early 1960s, the community dug the pan by hand, and it became a crucial water source,” Kahindi recounted. “By 1973, we introduced a ‘Food for Work’ program, where the local chief at the time, Mseketero, would provide food to those who helped dig the pan.”

The Ndigiria Water Pan flourished, especially after the National Drought Management Authority, with support from the European Union, rehabilitated it in 2010. “The water pan held vast amounts of water, allowing the community to practice irrigation and grow food. It supported our livelihood and nutrition, and even improved school enrollment as families thrived,” Kahindi said. He remembered the vibrant greenhouses along the banks, where tissue bananas, tomatoes, and vegetables were cultivated. “In 2015, Kilifi County held World Food Day here because the environment was so lush,” Kahindi added.

However, disaster struck in 2017 when the water pan’s banks broke, causing water levels to drop drastically. The greenhouses were abandoned, and irrigation stopped. The once-thriving community faced severe water shortages, leading to hardships. In 2024, the NDMA returned to repair the pan’s banks and build a trap to improve water retention. Kahindi expressed hope that with the upcoming rains, the pan will fill again, restoring the community’s livelihood. “We believe that once the rains come, life will return to how it was before,” he said optimistically.

Government and Partner Interventions
The government, through the NDMA and the National Drought Emergency Fund (NDEF), is actively trucking water to communities and institutions in Ganze, Kaloleni, and Magarini sub-counties. In addition to this, today’s relief distribution of 600 bags of rice and 520 bags of beans, valued at KSh 7.98 million, will provide immediate support to families in need. Development partners, including Plan International and GiveDirectly, are also assisting, providing cash transfers to over 4,600 households. World Vision Kenya has supplied water storage tanks to schools, and FAO Kenya is distributing drought-tolerant seeds to prepare for the October to December planting season.

Looking Forward: Scaling Up Response
Hon. Beatrice Askul stressed the importance of scaling up interventions to support vulnerable households in Kilifi County. She recommended expanding cash transfers, increasing water trucking services, and providing livestock feed supplementation. “The government, along with our partners, is committed to continuing these efforts and building long-term resilience in ASAL regions,” she said. She concluded by urging private sector players to join in supporting drought-affected communities, reinforcing the need for sustainable solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Changing the Narrative: Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu’s Call for Lasting Solutions
Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu added his voice to the conversation, acknowledging the longstanding challenges faced by the area. “Ganze has been synonymous with abject poverty and known for the devastating famine. But the time has come for that narrative to change,” Kazungu declared. He expressed his appreciation to the government, especially through Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul and institutions such as NDMA, for their support to the people of Ganze.

Kazungu emphasized that while immediate relief is crucial, lasting solutions must be in place to ensure sustainable development. “We need to work together with partners committed to improving the lives of people from Muryachakwe and Ndigiria,” he said. His message was optimism, urging everyone to collaborate in building a future where communities in Ganze are no longer vulnerable to recurrent droughts but are empowered to thrive.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *