This is a dried remains of livestock lay across the parched earth.
Image by: WHO Regional Office for Africa
A deepening drought across Kenya and Somalia is pushing millions toward starvation, exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition in one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent years. Reports from the United Nations and Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) highlight the deteriorating conditions, which are being further compounded by flooding in riverine areas, ongoing conflicts, and mass displacement.
Kenya Faces Escalating Drought Crisis Kenya’s NDMA has reported that drought conditions have worsened in 20 of the country’s 23 arid and semi-arid counties. The poor performance of the 2024 short rainy season has led to a worsening trajectory, threatening livelihoods and food supply chains.
“The affected counties remain in the ‘normal’ drought phase, but all indicators show a deterioration,” the NDMA stated in its January 2025 report. The crisis has severely impacted vulnerable populations, particularly young children and pregnant women. Currently, an estimated 1.8 million people in Kenya’s ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) regions face acute food insecurity and require humanitarian aid. Among them, 500,000 children under five and over 100,000 pregnant women are suffering from malnutrition and are in urgent need of treatment.
Somalia Braces for Worsening Food Insecurity Somalia faces an equally dire situation, with the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis predicting that 4.4 million people will experience acute food insecurity between April and June. The report warns that 1.7 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, including 466,000 who could become severely malnourished.
“The situation is dire,” the IPC report emphasizes. “The likelihood of a below-normal Deyr rainy season, coupled with rising temperatures, could result in severe soil moisture loss, reduced crop and fodder productivity, and worsening food insecurity.”
Floods in riverine areas and persistent conflicts in central and southern Somalia have exacerbated the crisis, leading to the displacement of thousands and disrupting livelihoods and market access. Currently, 3.4 million Somalis—approximately 17 percent of the population—are already experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Climate Migration and Regional Instability
The worsening drought is expected to accelerate climate migration, as affected communities are forced to leave their homes in search of food, water, and livelihood opportunities. Pastoralist and farming communities, particularly in Kenya and Somalia, are among the hardest hit, as their traditional means of subsistence become unsustainable due to prolonged drought conditions. This mass displacement exacerbates urban overcrowding, increases competition for limited resources, and heightens social and political tensions in receiving areas.
Cross-border migration into Ethiopia, Uganda, and even further into the Gulf states could rise, further straining regional stability. Additionally, climate-induced migration has the potential to fuel conflicts over land and water resources, as displaced populations encroach on already fragile ecosystems and existing settlements. Without adequate intervention, climate migration will not only pose humanitarian challenges but could also contribute to regional insecurity and political instability.
Regional and Global Implications
The broader Horn of Africa is witnessing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, with 67.4 million people affected, according to reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). While countries like Sudan, affected by prolonged conflicts, bear the brunt of the crisis, Kenya remains highly vulnerable due to its extensive semi-arid regions.
As humanitarian agencies scramble to respond, urgent intervention is needed to avert mass starvation and stabilize affected communities. With climate change intensifying extreme weather patterns, the cycle of drought and floods in East Africa continues to pose an existential threat to millions, demanding immediate and coordinated action from governments, international organizations, and humanitarian groups.