The ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN) issued a joint statement on 5 October 2022 highlighting the escalating drought emergency in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), where over 4.2 million people—representing 24 percent of the ASAL population—were facing acute food insecurity. The report noted that in the ten counties where AHN operates, more than 40 percent of residents were already affected, with projections showing deterioration to 47.5 percent by the end of 2022.

The statement underscores the cumulative effects of five consecutive failed rain seasons, extensive livestock losses exceeding 2.4 million animals, and rising malnutrition rates—affecting 885,000 children and nearly one million pregnant and lactating women. It warns of worsening resource-based conflicts as pastoralist communities migrate in search of water and pasture.

AHN members have been implementing multi-purpose cash transfers, WASH interventions, and GBV prevention and response initiatives, reaching thousands of vulnerable households. However, the Network emphasized that these efforts remain a fraction of the need and called for urgent action by government and donors to scale up funding, release emergency allocations, and prioritize locally led humanitarian responses.

The Network also urged authorities to integrate climate-resilient adaptation measures, strengthen disaster management legislation, and ensure greater protection of women and girls who are disproportionately affected by the drought’s social and economic impacts.