The drought season will worsen the food insecurity situation in the country, with the number of people facing acute food insecurity expected to reach 5.4 million by June, a new report shows.
Speaking at the launch of the report at State House, President William Ruto called for scaling up of interventions to tackle drought. He said the response must be urgent to avert "widespread distress and suffering".
Priority areas identified
He identified the priority areas as enhanced food assistance, cash transfers, health and nutrition interventions.
Other interventions include sustained water supply, livestock feeds, school feeding programmes and peace and security initiatives.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries, Diplomats, the National Steering Committee on Drought Response and the private sector were present.
President Ruto said Sh6 billion has been set aside in the latest Supplementary Budget to respond to the drought between February and May. The amount will be supplemented by the private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response that has so far raised Sh650 million. The President said more than Sh15.35 billion is required for urgent life-saving interventions.
The National Drought Management Authority's 2022 short rains (October to December) assessment report reveals that food security in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties has worsened.
Further, the report indicates that the population facing acute food insecurity and consequently requiring humanitarian assistance currently stands at 4.4 million. The figure is a massive increment from the 3.5 million identified in July 2022 during the long rains.
Severe malnutrition
So worrying is the situation that over 970,000 children aged between six to nine months and 142,000 pregnant women are currently malnourished. In July last year, the figure stood at 884,000.
The report paints a grim picture of the overall deterioration in the food security situation across the 23 ASAL counties.
A further 495,362 food-insecure people were identified in nine traditionally non-ASAL counties assessed. These counties are Machakos, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kirinyaga and Murang'a.
According to the report, due to the prolonged drought, the nutrition status of children and women has worsened. Consequently, 970,214 children aged six to 59 months and 142,179 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are currently malnourished, compared to 884,464 children aged 6-59 months and 115,724 women reported in July 2022.
"These women and children are in urgent need of life-saving treatment for malnutrition. The most affected counties are Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Garissa, Baringo and Samburu with malnutrition levels above emergency level."
Other affected counties are Wajir, West Pokot, Laikipia, Kajiado, Kilifi and Kwale.
