While accepting that conditions were getting worse, cabinet ministers said the government had enough food aid in stock to address the needs of people in the worst-hit regions, where some 2.5 million people -- nearly twice the current number of recipients -- are expected to require assistance before February.

"In order to increase transport and distribution capacity from the depots to the people, the government has directed the military to immediately deploy resources and start the distribution of food and medical care in the worst-hit districts," Special Programmes Minister John Munyes said.

"Fortunately, there is adequate food in the country to meet the required needs," he said, noting that 7.5 million bags of maize and 2.5 million bags of beans were being sent to the affected districts as well as animal feed to assist peasants in keeping their livestock alive.

He said food was now being distributed to 1.3 million people in 17 districts and that aid would be extended to another 1.2 million people expected to need help "in the next two months as the drought bites and conditions deteroriate."

But Munyes and three other cabinet members downplayed claims from local politicians that the situation was spiralling out of control after Kenyan media splashed wrenching photos of cattle carcasses and hungry children across their front pages on Friday.

Several Nairobi newspapers reported that at least 12 people have died as a result of starvation or related causes in northeastern Kenya, an arid region that neighbors equally drought-plagued Somalia and has experienced chronic food shortages in the recent years.

But the ministers, along with Kenyan Red Cross officials and some foreign aid workers, said the number, cause and timespan of deaths in the region were not entirely clear.

"As far as deaths are concerned, we have not ascertained the number of people who have died, but you know deaths can come as a result of disease," Munyes told reporters at news conference called to announce the government's plans to deal with the drought.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) said people had died, but could not confirm whether it was due to starvation.

"Yes, we are getting normal reports of death, but it is hard to link the deaths to any new food shortages given that the region has experienced food shortages for some time," said a KRCS official.

His comments came as the British government said it would contribute 2.7 million pounds (4.7 million dollars, 3.9 million euros) to help meet a November UN appeal for 25 million dollars (20.5 million euros) to feed those Kenyans suffering from acute food shortages due to poor and erratic rains this year.

Last month, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) renewed its appeal for assistance and earlier this week the UN Children's Fund said the situation in drought-affected areas of Kenya was deteriorating rapidly.

"The dry weather is predicted to continue," UNICEF's Kenya country representative Heimo Laakkonen said in a statement. "Given that situation can only get worse, it is imperative that all partners and the government act swiftly to protect the most vulnerable children and women."

Meanwhile, in neighboring Somalia, the regional governor of the lawless nation's Lower Shabelle region appealed for emergency supplies to feed thousands of people that have been affected by drought-caused food shortages.

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