Drought hits Turkana region in Kenya despite overall food surplus

Kenya’s Drought Crisis Deepens: Food Shortages Widespread

A quarter of Kenya’s population faces severe food shortages, with up to 40% of the country’s produce being lost or wasted each year. In Turkana county, residents are struggling to access clean water, with hundreds of people and livestock sharing a single well.

The area is characterized by rugged terrain, dusty roads, and vast distances between villages. Despite the rainy season, weather experts warn that Turkana and other arid regions may receive little relief from drought. Authorities have confirmed that 23 out of 47 counties are affected, with an estimated 3.4 million people facing food insecurity.

In Turkana alone, 350,000 households are on the brink of starvation. Local residents report struggling to access basic necessities, including water and charcoal. The county’s livestock are also dying due to lack of food and water.

Experts note a paradox in Kenya’s current situation: while families face severe water shortages and hunger, Lake Turkana’s water levels have risen in recent years, displacing some shoreline communities. In other areas, sudden heavy rains trigger flash floods, yet the land remains largely barren.

According to a September report by the World Resources Institute (WRI), up to 40% of food produced in Kenya is lost or wasted each year. This occurs on farms, during handling and storage, and in households. The WRI also notes that while some areas have recorded good harvests, high prices and poverty mean that many pastoralist families cannot afford food from surplus regions.

Security is a major concern in drought-affected areas, with competition over water and pasture fueling tensions. Armed bandits operate in remote areas, and security forces struggle to contain violence amid logistical and political challenges. The government hopes to tap into the country’s untapped natural resources, including multiple aquifers beneath the surface, to address the crisis.

The situation is expected to worsen due to ongoing droughts, which have already affected Kenya for 40 years. Experts believe that better planning and management of water resources could help alleviate the crisis.

Source: Al Jazeera