Humanitarian agencies are warning that Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) face another difficult year as prolonged drought, recurrent flooding and disease outbreaks continue to threaten food security, livelihoods and access to essential services.
The warning is contained in the 2025 East Africa Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Report by World Vision, which says climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, leaving vulnerable communities trapped in a cycle of humanitarian crises.
According to the report, an estimated 2.12 million people in Kenya are expected to face acute food insecurity in early 2026, up from 1.76 million, with the worst impacts likely to be felt in the country’s ASAL counties.
The regions, which include Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit and Isiolo, continue to experience prolonged dry spells punctuated by destructive floods that wipe out crops, livestock and infrastructure.
The report says repeated climate shocks have eroded household resilience, leaving pastoralist and farming communities struggling to recover before the next disaster strikes. Livestock deaths, shrinking pasture, water shortages and poor harvests have combined to push many families deeper into poverty and food insecurity.
Children are among the hardest hit by the worsening humanitarian situation. The report estimates that 741,000 children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, while 109,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women require urgent nutritional support.
Health systems in drought-affected areas are also under pressure from outbreaks of cholera, malaria and Rift Valley fever, further stretching limited resources.
Humanitarian organisations warn that climate extremes are no longer isolated events but recurring emergencies that require a shift from reactive relief to long-term resilience building.
World Vision says it is increasingly investing in anticipatory action, using climate forecasts, disease surveillance and early warning systems to identify risks before disasters escalate.
The approach enables agencies and communities to protect livelihoods, pre-position emergency supplies and strengthen preparedness before drought or flooding reaches crisis levels.
The organisation is also expanding Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) programmes across East Africa to strengthen local preparedness. The initiative supports communities in conducting risk assessments, mapping hazards, developing contingency plans and establishing disaster response committees capable of leading emergency preparedness and recovery efforts.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian agencies say shrinking donor funding is limiting their ability to respond to growing needs.
The report notes that East Africa continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, driven by the combined effects of climate change, conflict, disease outbreaks and economic shocks.
World Vision is calling on governments, development partners and donors to increase investment in drought resilience, water infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture and early warning systems to help communities withstand future shocks.
It says strengthening preparedness and supporting sustainable livelihoods will be critical to reducing dependence on emergency relief in Kenya’s drought-prone ASAL counties.
