Perennial famine is policy failure not natural episode

When does drought become food stress, food insecurity or a famine? When should a state declare alarm, alert or emergency? In the face of stories and images of starving families, citizens have little time for famine terminology and scales. Starvation is deeply political and very public. Intense drought, starving communities and the reported deaths of up to twenty people in Baringo and Turkana challenges our leadership very directly.

The right to food is a crucial pillar of human dignity. Article 43 clearly states that all Kenyans have the right “to be free from hunger and have adequate food of acceptable quality.” Article 21 obligates national and county Governments to ensure our capabilities to access food is not blocked and where food cannot be accessed, provide food. Death by starvation is, therefore, a constitutional violation.