NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has called on the government to urgently declare the worsening drought in North Eastern Kenya a national disaster, warning that the region is facing an escalating humanitarian crisis marked by hunger, thirst and lack of basic medical care.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Gachagua said conditions in the drought-hit region had deteriorated to “alarming levels,” with families struggling to access food and water and health services grinding to a halt.
He accused leaders from the region of abandoning vulnerable communities and failing in their duty to protect lives and livelihoods, arguing that poor governance and neglect had worsened the suffering.
“The situation in North Eastern Kenya demands honest self-reflection and urgent action,” Gachagua said, adding that leadership should be judged by its ability to protect human life and dignity rather than personal or political gain.
The former deputy president painted a grim picture of the crisis, noting that livestock — including camels, which are known for surviving harsh conditions — are dying due to lack of pasture and water, a development he said underscores the severity of the drought.
“If even camels, animals that have evolved to endure some of the harshest environments on earth, are dying from thirst and hunger, what hope remains for human beings in the region?” he posed.
Gachagua highlighted the plight of orphans, widows and the sick, saying many families are going without food and essential healthcare as a result of what he described as greed and leadership failure.
“Orphans go hungry. Widows cry out in silence and in pain. The sick are denied even the most basic medical care,” he said.
The DCP leader urged the national government to immediately mobilise all available resources to address the crisis and save lives, while also appealing to the international community and development partners to step in with emergency humanitarian assistance.
“We call upon the government to urgently declare the ongoing drought a national disaster and mobilise all available resources to save lives,” Gachagua said, adding that accountability for regional leaders must go hand in hand with urgent relief efforts.
