The average annual costs of the damage caused estimated at around KHS 125 billion/US$1.25 billion – with each drought reducing the country’s Gross Domestic Product by an average of 3.3 per cent.
Even further out of view is the longer-term effect of the drought episodes on women and children, especially when the rains come and humanitarian efforts cease to make headlines.
2.6 million people in Kenya are severely food insecure.
While this will enable the UN and partners to work with the Government of Kenya, to save lives in the immediate term, longer-term strategies must be put in place.
Since the onset of the current drought in late 2016, over 3.4 million people in 23 counties are suffering from the impacts of this drawn out crisis.
In Turkana alone, one in every three children suffers from acute malnutrition and is at increased risk of death.
Beyond threatening human life and survival of children, the drought is also impacting Kenya’s long-term development of Kenya.
In partnership with the Government, the UN family and development partners in Kenya are committed to assist with the response to the drought.
2.5 billion/ US$ 25 million in the form of cash transfers and food, to respond to the emergency.