•Report says 12 counties face severe food and water shortage
•Government has spent Sh1.7 billion in emergency response
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
The government says 1.2 million people are at risk of death from famine.
In total, 14.7 million people are without food as the drought takes its toll.
The National Drought Management Authority blamed the crisis on lack of rain, disease outbreaks, locust invasion and insecurity.
The authority said communities in the 12 most affected counties are in danger of insecurity due to conflicts over resources.
An NDMA report obtained by the Star says families in arid and semi-arid areas are have severe water shortage and their livestock is dying .
The worst-hit counties are Mandera, Wajir, Turkana, Garissa, Marsabit, Tana River, Makueni, Kwale, Isiolo, Kilifi, West Pokot and Kajiado.
The below-average short rains increased the food insecure population from 655,800 in August 2018 to 1,111,500, with the top 12 counties having 865,300 food insecure people, the report says.
The authority says the government has spent Sh1.7 billion to treat people and livestock, feed them and provide water.
Some Sh550 million was used to provide water, Sh300 million to treat animals, Sh600 million on food and Sh40 million to restore peace.
“In Turkana, the hot spots are Kibish, Turkana North and Turkana East where 192, 800 people are in dire need of basic things such as water, food, treatment, peace and security,” the report says.
At least 88, 800 people in Mandera East, Banissa, Mandera West and Mandera North in Mandera county face death. Another 86, 100 people in Garissa at Hulugho, Daadab, Lagdera and Fafi are in critical condition.
In Baringo, where more than 15 deaths have occurred, 73,700 people living in Tiaty, Baringo South and Baringo North are in care in a bad state. They are surviving on wild fruits.
The report says 60,300 people in Kilifi’s Ganze, Magarini and Kaloleni are in critical condition while Tana River county has 59,700 in need of food aid.
In West Pokot County, the health of 57,600 people has deteriorated due to lack of water, food and security in Pokot North and Pokot Central.
In Marsabit 56,600 people in North Horr and Laisamis need food. Makueni has 54,800 case in Mbooni and Kibwezi. In Kajiado 47,100 need relief food while Kwale has 45,800.
In Isiolo 42,000 are in dire need of help.