The government of Kenya has said that the ongoing drought cannot be declared a national disaster but just a crisis that will be managed according to Cabinet Secretaries Henry Rotich, Mwangi Kiunjuri and Eugene Wamalwa.
Currently, statistics show that 1.4 million Kenyans face acute starvation and the government has said that by the end of the month of January, the number would have risen to 2 million people.
According to the National Drought Management Authority, Narok, Kajiado, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Kitui, Makueni, Marsabit and Garissa are experiencing an acute shortage in food, livestock as well as water supply.
In Marsabit County, statistics show that an average of 100 livestock are dying on a daily basis due to lack of food and water. Among those widely affected are the elderly and children who cannot walk for long distances in search of water and food.
The government has announced that already funds have been released that every family in the drought-stricken areas will receive at least 2700 shillings per month until such a time that the drought will be done. Most Kenyans, however, feel that the money is too little to help the dying Kenyans with some suggesting that food and water should have been taken to then instead.
Despite government saying that relief food and water had been sent to the affected areas, locals on the ground say that they have not received anything and only waiting for death. The government says that the coming of the rains is likely to delay to April or June and that the situation is set to become more and more worse.
Kenya Red Cross has said that it is contemplating on calling on Kenyans to help raise funds that will help safe millions of starving Kenyans. This will be a drive similar to Kenyan4Kenya that was conducted in 2011 where more than 4 million Kenyans needed a humanitarian help.
In Nairobi County, the rationing of water is likely to continue until the month of June as water levels in Ndakaini Dam continue to drop with the current reports showing that the water level is at 42 percent making it too insufficient to supply water to all the Nairobians.