The government of Kenya has announced it will allow importation of maize by licensed millers.
State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu said the process will be monitored closely.
Esipisu said on Sunday that the declaration of drought as a national disaster by President Uhuru Kenyatta gives the government powers to make available all resources at its disposal to combat the catastrophe.
He added that any help needed by the Ministry of Devolution to deal with drought will be made available by all ministries, departments and agencies.
Esipisu said this will see a significant increase in the cash transfer programme, food and water distribution, as well as initiatives to support pastoralists whose herds are threatened.
Other measures include the expansion of water trucking to areas and institutions without permanent sources of water as well as scaling up the provision of livestock feed as well as the sale of livestock by owners to the government.
Statistics by the Kenya Red Cross indicate that 2.7 million people face starvation if more help is not provided.