Address plight of starving women and children

A woman carrying her child begs for money from motorists along Nairobi's Uhuru Highway. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Drought continues to wreak havoc in several communities across the country. A report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance could reach 4.35 million by October 2022.

The report further indicates that 10 counties, including Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Kajiado and Tharaka Nithi are under 'alarm drought phase' while 10 others, including Embu, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni and Meru, are in 'alert drought phase'. Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu are in the 'normal drought phase'. Food insecurity at the household levels has left over 900,000 children aged 6-59 months battling acute malnutrition. Some 134,000 of pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are also acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.