The persistent drought in the Horn of Africa has exacerbated the existing humanitarian emergency in the region.

In Somalia in particular, people are suffering under the drought and under the consequences of decades of conflict. But the disastrous drought is also taking its toll on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The cause is lack of rain, but also structural development deficits. Disasters of this dimension can be prevented by targeted efforts to strengthen agricultural sectors.

The Federal Government of Germany has pledged 140 million Euros (Ksh. 17.5 billion) during the 2010-2013 period to fund various projects in Kenya covering key social sectors critical to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals, President Mwai Kibaki has said.