NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a warning over Kenya’s worsening drought and food security situation, saying millions of Kenyans are sliding deeper into hunger as rains fail and temperatures rise.
Gachagua said recent assessments show about 3.3 million people are currently facing high levels of acute food insecurity, a number expected to increase as below-average rainfall, prolonged dry spells and declining agricultural production continue to strain livelihoods across arid and semi-arid regions.
Speaking on Tuesday, the former deputy president painted a grim humanitarian picture, noting that the crisis is hitting the country’s most vulnerable populations hardest.
“As of December 2025, more than 741,000 children under the age of five are malnourished, while over 109,000 pregnant and lactating women require urgent nutritional treatment,” Gachagua said.
He also raised alarm over worsening water scarcity, saying women and children are bearing the heaviest burden as they walk long distances in search of water, miss school, and face heightened risks of disease and malnutrition.
“The impact on women and children is devastating, with serious consequences for health, education and dignity,” he said.
Gachagua added that the suffering is unfolding at a particularly painful time, as affected communities endure hunger and thirst during the holy month of Ramadan, compounding the humanitarian strain on already vulnerable families.
In response to the deepening crisis, Gachagua called on President William Ruto to take immediate action, urging him to declare the drought in northern Kenya a national disaster.
According to Gachagua, such a declaration would unlock critical national and international assistance needed to save lives, protect livelihoods and restore dignity among affected communities.
