• More than 4.5 million people mostly in ASAL counties are facing high levels of acute food insecurity owing to the ongoing drought.
• Data shows that about 2.5 million livestock have been killed in drought-stricken counties as rivers and wells have dried up and pastures have turned to dust.
Volunteers have joined ongoing food distribution exercises as the government and humanitarian agencies move to stem starvation in drought-hit counties.
More than 4.5 million people mostly in ASAL counties are facing high levels of acute food insecurity owing to the ongoing drought.
The Kenya Red Cross said on Wednesday its volunteers were helping distribute relief food to thousands of affected households in four Coastal sub-counties.
"Our volunteers are currently supporting the National Government in distributing relief food to 4000 drought-affected families in Taita, Voi, Mwatate and Taveta sub-counties. The relief food is an immediate measure to help overcome current food shortages due to the ongoing drought," Red Cross said in a statement.
Other than humans, official data shows that about 2.5 million livestock have been killed in the drought-stricken counties as rivers and wells have dried up and pastures have turned to dust.
At least 23 Asal counties are the most affected owing to the drought that was caused by adverse climatic conditions and poor rains.
Experts have, however, said the situation could improve because the La Niña condition, which partly caused dry weather in Kenya in the last two years, is predicted to weaken from mid-February.