More than two million people are facing hunger in parts of Kenya due to severe drought conditions, with cattle-keeping communities in the northeast suffering the most, according to the United Nations and other aid agencies. Images of emaciated livestock in the arid region near the Somali border have shocked many, highlighting the impact of climate change on the area.
Four consecutive wet seasons have failed in parts of the Horn of Africa, and the October to December wet season was one of the driest ever recorded, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Eastern Kenya experienced its driest conditions for that season since 1981. The National Drought Management Authority reports that ten counties are now experiencing drought, with Mandera County bordering Somalia reaching the 'alarm' classification, indicating critical water shortages leading to livestock deaths and child wasting.
The drought is also affecting neighbouring countries. In southern Somalia, Islamic Relief found 'shocking food shortages' as families flee worsening drought. Over three million people in Somalia have been displaced, with 70% of those in Baidoa surviving on one meal a day or less, and children showing signs of malnutrition. The suffering extends into Tanzania and Uganda, where similar weather patterns threaten communities.
Experts attribute the crisis to climate change, with the Indian Ocean warming and intensifying both tropical storms and drought conditions. Africa, which contributes only 3-4% of global emissions, is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and limited capacity to prepare for natural disasters. The livestock losses echo the 2020-2023 period when millions of animals died across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, though a predicted famine in Somalia was averted by international aid.
