More than 2.1 million Kenyans could require humanitarian assistance by January 2026 as drought conditions intensify across arid and semi-arid counties, the government has warned.
Speaking on Monday, Principal Secretary for ASALs and Regional Development Kello Harsama said the situation in Mandera has deteriorated sharply, with the county officially moving into the Alarm phase of drought according to the latest National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) early-warning bulletin.
“Today, I chaired a high-level drought and food security briefing alongside my colleague, the Principal Secretary for Special Programmes, Ismail Maalim. NDMA’s latest early-warning update shows that Mandera has now moved into the Alarm drought phase,” PS Harsama said.
He added that nine other counties, Wajir, Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Marsabit, Kwale, Kajiado, Isiolo and Tana River, remain in the Alert phase, while 13 more are experiencing a steady decline in conditions.
According to the PS, the worsening outlook is driven by the failure of the October–December short rains combined with unusually high temperatures.
“The failure of the short rains, coupled with persistently high temperatures, has further depleted water and pasture. Food insecurity is rising sharply, with projections indicating that over 2.1 million people may need assistance by January 2026,” he noted.
During the briefing, senior government officials and members of Parliament from affected counties reviewed emergency measures to curb further deterioration.
Harsama said the government is prioritising immediate interventions, including fast-tracking borehole repairs, expanding water trucking, managing increased livestock migration, strengthening peace and security in hotspot areas, and distributing government relief food.
The session brought together key leaders from the northern region, among them Hon. Adan Keynan (Eldas), Hon. Major Bashir (Mandera North), Hon. Abdu Haro (Mandera South), Hon. Aden Daud (Wajir East), Hon. Yussuf Farah (Wajir West), Hon. Abdikadir Hussein (Lagdera) and Hon. Adan Haji (Mandera West).
Also present were Lt. Col. (Rtd) Hared Adan, CEO of NDMA; Hon. Mohammed Elmi, Chair of the National Livestock Development and Promotion Service; Dr. Dominic Menjo, the President’s Advisor on Food Security; NEDI Coordinator Ibrahim Rashid; and senior NDMA officers.
The government is expected to roll out enhanced drought-response operations in the coming weeks as conditions continue to worsen across northern Kenya.