1.8 Million Kenyans Struggle with Food Insecurity Amid Climate Challenges

Synopsis

The National Drought Management Authority reports that 1.8 million Kenyans are facing severe food insecurity due to climate change, predominantly in arid regions. This situation has resulted in heightened malnutrition levels among vulnerable populations, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance.

Key Takeaways

1.8 million Kenyans are food insecure.
Arid regions are severely impacted by climate change.
High malnutrition levels in vulnerable groups.
Urgent humanitarian assistance is required.
39% of arid counties report worsened nutrition.

Nairobi, Jan 21 (NationPress) The alarming number of Kenyans grappling with food insecurity and in dire need of humanitarian aid has reached 1.8 million, as arid regions continue to suffer from the harsh impacts of climate change, according to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday.

The NDMA's report, released in Nairobi, highlights that the majority of those affected reside in the 23 arid and semi-arid counties of this East African nation.

“The counties of Wajir, Garissa, Turkana, Marsabit, and Mandera exhibit the highest proportions of food insecure populations,” the government agency stated, emphasizing its role in addressing drought-related challenges.

The report indicates that the number of impacted individuals has remained at 1.8 million since November 2024, with acute malnutrition levels persistently high in counties such as Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Baringo, and Turkana.

Currently, approximately 479,498 children aged six to 59 months and 110,169 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are acutely malnourished and urgently require treatment, as reported by NDMA, according to Xinhua.

NDMA noted that the deteriorating nutrition situation in affected areas is largely due to inadequate and unbalanced food intake, driven by high rates of poverty and illness.

As of December 2024, the number of individuals needing humanitarian assistance in Kenya stood at 1.8 million, as reported by NDMA.

In a previous report from July 2024, this figure had been only a million, illustrating the impact of a recent “drought phase” particularly in the 23 arid and semi-arid areas.

The agency also highlighted that around 39 percent of these arid counties are facing a worse-than-usual nutrition situation for this time of year, attributed to limited outreach efforts in delivering essential nutrition services amidst high morbidity rates.

Regions experiencing malnutrition issues include Baringo, Turkana, Kitui, Laikipia, Lamu, Makueni, and West Pokot, as reported by Xinhua.

Additionally, a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development indicated that the number of food-insecure individuals in the Horn of Africa reached 64.8 million as of November, primarily due to climate shocks.