Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has appealed to President William Ruto to urgently designate the severe drought gripping northern Kenya as a national disaster, saying the declaration is critical to unlocking support and saving lives.
According to Gachagua, the drought has deepened into a full-blown humanitarian crisis, with millions of families struggling amid failing rains, shrinking water sources and widespread crop failure. He highlighted recent assessments estimating that around 3.3 million Kenyans are facing acute food insecurity, a number that could climb as dry conditions continue.
Gachagua stressed that children and vulnerable groups are especially impacted. He noted that more than 741,000 children under five are acutely malnourished and over 109,000 pregnant and nursing women require urgent treatment – alarming figures that underscore the need for immediate action.
In his statement, Gachagua said declaring the drought a national disaster would help mobilize both domestic and global resources for emergency relief, including food, clean water and medical services. He emphasized that early, proactive interventions — such as building water infrastructure like dams and pumps, and allocating emergency funding — could dramatically reduce suffering.
The drought has been driven by below-average rainfall, rising temperatures and repeated failed rainy seasons, which have worsened water scarcity and food shortages across northern and arid regions. Gachagua said women and children are bearing the brunt of these challenges as they travel long distances for water, often missing school and facing elevated health risks.
His appeal reflects growing concern from leaders and communities about the drought’s severity and the need for decisive national leadership to prevent further loss of life and livelihoods.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has appealed to President William Ruto to urgently designate the severe drought gripping northern Kenya as a national disaster, saying the declaration is critical to unlocking support and saving lives.
According to Gachagua, the drought has deepened into a full-blown humanitarian crisis, with millions of families struggling amid failing rains, shrinking water sources and widespread crop failure. He highlighted recent assessments estimating that around 3.3 million Kenyans are facing acute food insecurity, a number that could climb as dry conditions continue.
Gachagua stressed that children and vulnerable groups are especially impacted. He noted that more than 741,000 children under five are acutely malnourished and over 109,000 pregnant and nursing women require urgent treatment – alarming figures that underscore the need for immediate action.
In his statement, Gachagua said declaring the drought a national disaster would help mobilize both domestic and global resources for emergency relief, including food, clean water and medical services. He emphasized that early, proactive interventions — such as building water infrastructure like dams and pumps, and allocating emergency funding — could dramatically reduce suffering.
The drought has been driven by below-average rainfall, rising temperatures and repeated failed rainy seasons, which have worsened water scarcity and food shortages across northern and arid regions. Gachagua said women and children are bearing the brunt of these challenges as they travel long distances for water, often missing school and facing elevated health risks.
His appeal reflects growing concern from leaders and communities about the drought’s severity and the need for decisive national leadership to prevent further loss of life and livelihoods.
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