Kenya has experienced severe droughts before, most recently in 2022 when record dry conditions wiped out livestock and triggered a hunger crisis in the country’s arid north and northeast. However, the current drought is now spreading to areas that traditionally did not face such extreme conditions, including Kajiado County near the capital, Nairobi, where Katanga lives. Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority has warned that repeated droughts are increasing competition for scarce resources and raising the risk of conflict. Somalia declared a national drought emergency, with the UN warning that millions face severe hunger and rising malnutrition. Weather forecasts show Kajiado is likely to receive near-average to below-average rainfall, deepening fears that conditions may worsen.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 07, 2026 18:34 UTC