During the current financial year, the government has invested about Sh400.1 million in resilience projects National Drought Management Authority CEO Hared Adan speaks during a Strategic Private Sector Forum on Drought Resilience and ASAL Investments forum in Nairobi/ HANDOUT The government is eyeing private sector capital for climate adaptation projects as drought resilience now turns into one of Kenya’s most promising investments Led by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), government is hopes to have billions channeled into initiatives that safeguard livelihoods, secure water resources and deliver sustainable commercial returns across the country’s drought-prone regions.
The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which cover about 80 per cent of the country’s landmass are among Kenya’s greatest untapped investment frontiers, rich in natural and strategic resources and high growth opportunities. These landscapes offer significant opportunities for agriculture (including livestock), energy, tourism and conservation.
NDMA is hence positioning climate resilience not merely as a humanitarian concern but as a business and economic opportunity, arguing that every sector, from agriculture and manufacturing to banking, insurance and logistics, as a direct stake in reducing drought-related risks.
According to the authority, drought should increasingly be viewed as a business continuity challenge with significant implications for supply chains, production and market stability. The push comes as Kenya grapples with increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks that have disrupted agricultural output, strained water resources and increased vulnerability across arid and semi-arid lands.
“We can continue financing emergencies. Alternatively, we can invest in resilience to reduce future losses and create lasting value. We believe the latter is the better investment,” NDMA chief executive, Hared Adan, said. He spoke in Nairobi on Monday during a public-private sector forum in collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.
He said the government has identified more than 630 community-prioritised resilience projects, and is now seeking partnerships to accelerate scale and mobilise additional financing.