• This means that the number of Kenyans likely to go to bed on an empty stomach could rise.
The drought is worsening in 16 of the 23 arid and semi-arid counties, the National Drought Management Authority has said.
This means that the number of Kenyans likely to go to bed on an empty stomach could rise.
Already, 3.5 million Kenyans are in dire need of food.
The authority in its latest update said seven counties are in alarm drought phase. They are Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Samburu, Isiolo, Baringo and Turkana.
Another nine are in alert phase. They are Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Meru (North), Nyeri (Kieni) and West Pokot.
“The remaining six counties including Kajiado, Narok, Makueni, Taita Taveta, and Embu (Mbeere) and Tana River are in normal drought phase,” the update indicated.
NDMA said two subcounties–Wajir (Wajir East), Mandera (Mandera East)–are in extreme vegetation deficit and in need of humanitarian assistance.
Four counties–Mandera, Laikipia, Samburu and Wajir-are in severe vegetation deficit.
The report said five counties, including Baringo, Isiolo, Kwale, Marsabit, and West Pokot, are in moderate vegetation deficit.
This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 short rains and late onset of the 2022 long rains season.
On Monday, Kenya Meteorological Department said there will be moderate to heavy rainfall over most parts of the country this week.
The month of March marks the onset of the March-May long rain season.
However, sunny and dry conditions prevailed for most of the month.
On April 11, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) described the situation as dire.
IGAD executive secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu said countries within the Horn of Africa have real prospects that the rains will fail for a fourth consecutive season.
He said the IGAD region recorded higher temperatures and less than normal rainfall.
Gebeyehu said 15.5 to 16 million people in the IGAD region are in need of immediate food assistance.