severe and prolonged drought in Kenya is threatening the livelihoods and basic needs of millions of people across the country, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions that have not seen significant rainfall since mid-2025. The National Drought Management Authority has put multiple counties on alert as the shortage of rain and resources deepens, pushing food insecurity and water scarcity to crisis levels. Mandera County, bordering Ethiopia and Somalia, has gone without rain since May and is among the hardest-hit areas, with livestock dying and water points drying up. Pastoralist communities that depend on cattle, goats and camels for income and food have faced devastating losses, forcing them to transport dead animals away from settlements to prevent disease outbreaks and scavenging animal hazards. Across 23 counties, more than two million people are now facing worsening food insecurity after the October–December short rains delivered significantly below average rainfall. Relief clinics and hospitals in drought-affected regions are reporting an influx of malnourished children, while critical supplies such as therapeutic milk are dwindling. Humanitarian organisations, including the Kenya Red Cross Society, have confirmed that water, food and cash assistance programmes are underway in the worst-affected areas, but the scale of need far outstrips current resources. Urgent priorities include safe water trucking, water point rehabilitation and expanded food and nutrition support.
Authorities have appealed for additional support as malnutrition rates rise particularly among children and pregnant or breastfeeding women and the risk of disease outbreaks increases due to unsafe water sources. The region now faces a critical humanitarian situation, with health and nutrition services under immense pressure as drought conditions persist.
