Nairobi, February 11, 2026 – The Europe Today: The United Nations has announced that prolonged drought conditions have left more than two million people facing hunger in parts of Kenya, as severe water shortages and livestock losses grip the Horn of Africa.
According to international reports, images of emaciated livestock in arid areas near the Somali border have underscored the worsening humanitarian situation. Communities dependent on pastoralism have been particularly hard hit, as shortened rainy seasons in recent years have exposed them to recurring drought cycles. Livestock, often the primary source of livelihood, are typically the first casualties in such crises.
The current losses echo the devastating period between 2020 and 2023, when millions of animals perished across a region stretching from Kenya into Ethiopia and Somalia. During that period, a looming famine in Somalia was ultimately averted following a significant surge in international aid.
The United Nations reported that four consecutive wet seasons have failed in parts of the Horn of Africa. The October to December rainy season was among the driest ever recorded, according to the World Health Organization, leaving parts of eastern Kenya more parched than at any time during that season since 1981.
The impact of the drought extends beyond Kenya. Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda are also experiencing similar weather patterns and water shortages, raising concerns about food security and public health across the region.
Experts attribute much of the worsening crisis to the intensifying climate emergency, warning that without sustained humanitarian assistance and long-term climate adaptation measures, vulnerable communities will remain at heightened risk.
The United Nations has called for increased international support to prevent further deterioration of food security conditions in the affected areas.
