Drought Crisis Deepens in Kenya, Leaving 1.9M in Need of Food Assistance

Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has reported a worsening drought crisis, with 1.9 million people in 23 arid and semi-arid counties currently in need of food aid. The situation is expected to further deteriorate between June and August.

The NDMA noted acute malnutrition affecting 847,932 children and 124,359 pregnant/breastfeeding mothers, requiring urgent treatment. Pastoralism, the economic mainstay in these regions, has been devastated by livestock diseases.

Across the Greater Horn of Africa, a staggering 74.9 million people are highly food insecure and in dire need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN agencies.

The deepening drought crisis demands immediate action to provide life-saving support to the vulnerable populations in Kenya and the wider region.