According to Intergovernmental Authority on Development, at least 3.5 Kenyans are in desperate need of food.
Drought is a significant problem in Kenya and to just demonstrate the extent of this crisis, the now retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in September last year declared the drought as a national disaster.
The number of Kenyans in need of food is projected to increase to 4.35 million by next month, which is under a week.
United Nations further estimates that over 15 million people are facing severe effects of this 'disease' in terms of water shortage and acute food insecurity in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. This number could reach 20 million, if these conditions persist.
Drought is not a local issue as thought by many: It's a global crisis and Kenya should, therefore, take the lead to combat this menace.
The crisis is more prevalent in northern and eastern parts of Kenya, from Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Garrisa and Isiolo just to mention but a few.
That does not mean other regions are not affected.
Given the majority of farmers in the country depend on rain-fed agriculture, and that the rains have failed for three seasons in some areas, crop production has greatly been hit. Little or no harvest is expected.
Pastoralist communities are also suffering from effects of drought due to the lack of water and pasture, which has led to many cattle dying. And in search of water and pasture, communities have engaged in conflicts.
A recent study showed that the ongoing drought has killed over 1.5 million livestock, which are mostly source of food as milk and meat and source of pastoralists’ livelihood in these areas.
Children in these areas have also been hit hard, some suffering from malnutrition.
Given this situation, most residents in northern and eastern parts of Kenya are now relying on food donations from NGOs, the church and well-wishers. However, what these organisations give is only a drop in the ocean. Therefore, the government — county and national — and other concerned stakeholders should intervene and give food aid.
The drought in some parts of Kenya has also forced many families to walk more than 15km every day to fetch water from untreated borehole for drinking and cooking. This sometimes leads to them contracting diseases. But do they have an option?
Amidst this environment, a good number of children have been forced to drop out of school.
It is high time the Ruto government steps up the fight against drought. The Jubilee government did little to improve the situation and offer sustainable solutions.
Most importantly the new government should deal with the major causes of drought in Kenya, ranging from deforestation, global warming — over the last decade, the temperatures have increased leading to severe effects on most parts of world not only Kenya — and other forms of climate change.
It should encourage planting of more trees and implement new measures to curb land encroachment.
There is need to galvanize efforts to ensure that lives and livelihoods are not lost to drought by employing short-term and long-term strategies to mitigate this perennial famine.
The Hunger Safety Programme that existed in Jubilee regime should be incorporated by the Ruto government so that vulnerable groups benefit from it.
In the long-term, Kenya should come up with and encourage sustainable agricultural practices and specifically to promote crops and livestock breeds and varieties that are tolerant to drought, investment in crop and livestock insurance, environment protection and conservation.
Promotion of alternative water sources and increased emphasis on rainwater harvesting for domestic or irrigation purposes in times of severe drought are also key interventions that can help.
This will go a long way in reducing the impacts of drought on food and nutrition security.
Above all, the new administration and other concerned stakeholders need to ensure we have the right framework to deal with this menace if we are to achieve Vision 2013 and SDGs.
Rodgers Otiso is a communication and media student at Rongo University
