Attachments
Executive Summary
Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) are facing a rapidly worsening crisis as consecutive failed and below‑average rainy seasons have intensified drought conditions, driving widespread food insecurity and a sharp rise in acute malnutrition. Four counties; Mandera, Wajir, Kwale, and Kilifi, are currently classified in the Alarm Phase, indicating critical drought conditions requiring urgent response. Twelve other counties, including Baringo, Tana River, Kajiado, Kitui, Lamu, Samburu, Laikipia, Narok, Turkana, Isiolo, Marsabit and Garissa are classified in the Alert Phase.
This situation is the result of three consecutive below-average rainy seasons (OctoberDecember 2024, March–May 2025, and October–December 2025). The latest short rains (October–December 2025) delivered only 30–60% of the long-term average and are classified among the driest since 1981
Despite the growing need, with over 3.3 million people acutely food insecure and more than 810,000 children and 116,796 pregnant & breastfeeding mothers requiring urgent assistance & treatment, the humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, limiting outreach services, commodity pipelines, and lifesaving support.
Without an immediate scale‑up of resources, the crisis is projected to deepen, rising to 3.6 million by June 2026, pushing more counties toward emergency thresholds and placing thousands of children and mothers at risk of preventable illness and death.
Immediate multisectoral action is required to prevent further deterioration. Priority interventions include scaling up malnutrition screening and treatment, restoring integrated outreach services, expanding emergency and sustainable water solutions, protecting livelihoods through livestock and agricultural support, and strengthening cash-based social protection to stabilize household food access and safeguard vulnerable women and children.