Religious leaders have sounded a strong warning over the worsening drought affecting Northern Kenya and the Coast, urging President William Ruto to declare the crisis a national disaster.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) says the drought is endangering livelihoods in at least 23 counties, putting pastoralists and local communities at serious risk.
Supkem chairman Hassan Ole Naado led the group on Thursday in Nairobi, calling for immediate government intervention to address severe food shortages, dwindling water supplies, and the growing loss of livestock.
He stressed that both county governments and national authorities must act swiftly to prevent the situation from worsening further.
“It is abundantly clear that we are facing a crisis that demands immediate and concerted action,” Naado told reporters.
“Supkem calls upon the Government of Kenya, county governments in the affected areas, Muslim well-wishers, institutions and partners to mobilise emergency resources to address this multifaceted crisis.”
Naado added that communities in the affected areas have been sending urgent distress messages as water becomes scarce and livestock deaths rise. He emphasized that officially declaring the drought a national emergency would help mobilize aid more quickly and save lives.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has also highlighted the severity of the situation. Last month, NDMA chief Harred Hassan reported that Mandera is among the worst-hit counties, with Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale, and Tana River also affected.
“The government, in collaboration with humanitarian and development partners, is scaling up drought response interventions to cushion at least 2.1 million food-insecure people and protect livelihoods, alongside long-term resilience measures,” Mr Hassan said on January 15.
The drought crisis was further discussed at the 2026 Development Partners Forum at the Deputy President’s office. Council of Governors chairperson and Wajir Governor Abdullahi Ahmed described the situation as alarming, linking it to three consecutive failed rainy seasons and highlighting the urgent need for coordinated relief and longer-term planning.
