First Lady Rachael Ruto has credited Kenya’s current food security to a combination of national prayers and government interventions.
She made the remarks during an interview in the United States.
“People have overnight prayers, like even in State House, we have overnight prayers every Friday, we call the ‘keshas’,” Ruto said, referring to weekly sessions at the official residence.
She recalled that the Kenya Kwanza administration assumed office in 2022 amid a severe drought.
“Everybody did not know what to do. You know, the church was praying. You know the government was giving out food. And helping communities and distributing food,” she said.
Rachel highlighted a national event on February 14, 2023, where President William Ruto led a solemn assembly in one of Kenya’s largest stadiums.
“We prayed to God, and we repented according to Chronicles, chapter seven, verses 14. We asked God to forgive our sins as a nation. And we asked God to give us rain and to give us food,” she said.
She noted that exactly one month later, the rains returned and the country achieved food security. The First Lady also said the government is constructing dams to store water during heavy rainfall.
“Our president called for a solemn assembly, and we gathered… and the rain started pouring. It’s still raining. Now we have food security,” Rachel concluded.
Over two million people across Kenya are facing worsening food insecurity following one of the driest October to December 2025 rainy seasons on record.
The prolonged drought has led to rising rates of malnutrition, increased risk of disease outbreaks, and disrupted access to essential health services.
According to the country’s National Drought Management Authority (NDM), the 2025 short rains, which normally bring seasonal rainfall between October and December, delivered only 30 to 60 percent of the long-term average in most areas, producing the driest season recorded since 1981 in parts of eastern Kenya.
As of February 2026, state data shows that 10 counties are experiencing drought conditions.
Nine counties, Wajir, Garissa, Kilifi, Marsabit, Kitui, Kwale, Kajiado, Isiolo, and Tana River, are in the “alert” phase, while Mandera is in the critical “alarm” phase.
