WAJIR, Kenya — Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel have delivered emergency water supplies to residents of Hubsoy in Wajir South Sub-County following an urgent appeal from local authorities over a severe shortage that threatened lives.
The humanitarian operation was mounted after the area chief raised a distress call warning that the community had completely run out of safe water for domestic use as prolonged dry conditions continue to grip parts of northern Kenya.
In a statement, KDF said the alert triggered rapid planning and coordination, leading to the deployment of a civil-military cooperation patrol to deliver water and assess the situation on the ground.
“KDF received an urgent call from the Hubsoy area chief, reporting a life-threatening shortage of water affecting the local community,” the military said.
Troops transported water to the remote area, where residents had been relying on dwindling and unreliable sources during the ongoing dry season.
Households gathered at designated points to receive the supplies, with local leaders coordinating distribution to ensure as many families as possible were reached.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops in Wajir area recently conducted a Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) humanitarian operation to deliver emergency water supplies to residents of Hubsoy location, Wajir South Sub-County, following a distress call reporting a critical water
The delivery eased pressure on residents struggling to meet basic needs such as drinking, cooking and sanitation, particularly vulnerable groups including children, the elderly and livestock-dependent households.
During the mission, soldiers carried out an assessment of the water situation and confirmed that Hubsoy is facing a severe and prolonged shortage, with existing sources either depleted or insufficient to sustain the population.
“The area is experiencing a serious and life-threatening water crisis,” KDF said, noting that while the delivery provided short-term relief, the scale of the challenge requires continued assistance and long-term solutions.
Residents expressed gratitude to the military for responding swiftly at a time when the community had exhausted all available options, saying the intervention helped ease anxiety and uncertainty caused by the shortage.
KDF said the operation forms part of its civil-military cooperation mandate, which supports civilian populations during emergencies, especially in remote regions with limited access to essential services.
The Hubsoy intervention comes as parts of Wajir County and other arid and semi-arid areas continue to face water shortages linked to prolonged dry conditions, placing livelihoods and access to basic resources at risk.
