The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has moved Laikipia county from the alarm drought phase to the alert phase.
This leaves 13 in the alarm drought phase.
They include Taita Taveta, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kwale, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir, Kitui, Kajiado, Mandera, Garissa, Tana River and Marsabit.
NDMA has further noted that seven counties of Narok, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni, Nyeri, Meru and Laikipia are in the alert drought phase while three counties of Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu are in the Normal drought phase.
Generally, the drought situation in the 20 ASAL counties remained critical in the month of November 2022.
“This is attributable to four failed rain seasons coupled with delayed onset of the October to December 2022 spots of rain in most parts of the ASALs,” NDMA said in a statement.
“The impact of sustained drought situation has seen the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance stand at 4.35 million,” it adds.
According to NMDA, Laikipia received a total amount of 64.6mm of rainfall during the month of November when compared to 30.1mm of rainfall received during the month of October.
During the month of November, the County received light to heavy showers of rain in some places. The rainfall amounts were below the long-term mean (LTM) for the month of November.
It further warns that the end of OND seasonal rains is likely to fall between the fourth week of December 2022 to the first week of January 2023 in Laikipia County.
The distribution in time and space is expected to be poor to fair, it adds.
The authority warns that risks of acute malnutrition continue to be reported in ASAL counties where 942,000 cases of children aged 6 to 59 months and 134,000 cases of pregnant or lactating women acutely malnourished continue to access treatment.
