Communities in Northern Kenya are facing worsening drought conditions that continue to threaten lives, livestock and livelihoods, amid renewed calls for long-term planning and better use of public funds.
In a statement highlighting the crisis, Wajir gubernatorial aspirant Omar M. Sheikh said pastoralist communities in the arid and semi-arid regions are grappling with recurring drought and famine driven by climate change and environmental degradation.
He noted that prolonged rainfall failure lasting two to three seasons, has devastated livestock, the main source of income in the region. While drought is a global phenomenon, Sheikh observed that in Northern Kenya it often escalates into famine, leaving families without food and water.
“Frequent drought is normally followed by heavy rains causing floods, killing people and animals, creating an endless vicious cycle of crisis,” he said.
According to Sheikh, parts of Wajir West, including Hadado, Garse Gofua and Arbajahan, are showing signs of desertification that could turn the area into Kenya’s third desert if urgent interventions are not made.
However, he pointed out that the region sits on the Merti Aquifer a vast underground freshwater resource extending toward Somalia which, if properly developed, could support irrigation and food production.
He emphasized that famine in Northern Kenya can be managed through proper planning, investment in water infrastructure, food provision, livestock markets and fodder supply systems.
The recurring images of dead livestock and malnourished children, he said, have drawn national and international attention, often prompting calls for the region to be declared a national disaster area to unlock humanitarian aid.
Sheikh attributed the region’s long-standing vulnerability partly to historical marginalization between 1963 and 2012, which he said slowed development. While devolution has since channeled billions of shillings to county governments, he argued that poor planning and the absence of strong disaster preparedness strategies remain major challenges.
“The problem with our counties is lack of planning and prudent utilization of county funds,” he stated.
As drought cycles become more frequent, leaders and residents are increasingly urging a shift from emergency responses to sustainable, long-term solutions aimed at breaking the cycle of hunger and economic loss in Northern Kenya.
