Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes CS Geoffrey Ruku in Samburu on July 16, 2025./HANDOUT
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has assured Kenyans that no one will die of hunger as long as he remains in charge of the country’s special programmes docket.
Speaking in Nontoto, Samburu County, during a government relief food distribution exercise, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, said President William Ruto’s administration has put in place strategic measures to ensure no Kenyan is left behind in times of crisis.
“As the Special Programmes department of the Republic of Kenya, which President William Ruto has put me in charge of, I will ensure that no Kenyan in Samburu or any other place in Kenya will die of hunger,” said Ruku.
He said the government is building up strategic food reserves sufficient to cushion vulnerable communities, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, against hunger.
“The government of Kenya is preparing and putting plans to have strategic food reserves, enough for each and every person facing hunger in the Republic of Kenya. That is the directive of President William Ruto,” he added.
Ruku noted that the relief supplies distributed during the event were part of the government’s broader plan to mitigate the effects of drought and provide immediate support to affected regions.
“I assure all of you in arid and semi-arid areas that the government is firm and has concrete plans, and that is why we have come with these supplies here today,” he said.
The CS also praised President Ruto’s commitment to the welfare of all Kenyans, describing him as a leader who works tirelessly to respond to the needs of citizens.
“President William Ruto wakes up early and sleeps late, ensuring that everything is okay for Kenyans,” Ruku said.
His visit came in the wake of a significant milestone for the country. A new report by the United Nations has listed Kenya among ten countries removed from the global hunger hotspots list due to improved food security conditions.
The joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) attributed the improvement to favourable weather, better harvests, and fewer extreme climate events. Other countries removed from the list include Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Niger, and Mozambique.
However, the UN warned that these gains remain fragile and could be quickly reversed by economic shocks, conflict, or climate disasters.
“The gains could reverse in the coming months unless urgent humanitarian action is taken and a coordinated international effort is mounted to de-escalate conflict, stem displacement and scale up aid,” the report stated.
The UN urged continued investment in early humanitarian interventions, noting that timely action saves lives and reduces the cost of crisis response.
Ruku said the Kenyan government remains alert to these warnings and is committed to scaling up food security efforts before the situation worsens again.