Call For National Action as Drought Worsens in Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu
Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim has appealed to the national government to urgently intervene in four counties facing severe drought, warning that without swift action, lives could be lost unnecessarily.
Ali said the scale of the current crisis has outstripped the capacity of county governments, requiring a coordinated national response.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Friday, January 9, 2026, Ali shared details from a high-level meeting with Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris. The discussion centred on strategies to contain the worsening drought and ensure resources reach the most vulnerable communities quickly.
The Deputy Governor highlighted that Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit, and Samburu are the hardest hit counties and called for a formal emergency declaration to enable a larger, coordinated response. He stressed that such a move would strengthen relief efforts and help save lives.
“We resolved to intensify engagement with political leadership to put pressure on the National Government to declare an emergency in the four most affected counties: Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit, and Samburu. Such a declaration would enable a properly upscaled and better-coordinated response,” Ali stated.
Ali said the current drought is more severe than the one experienced in 2023, worsened by the failure of the October-November-December rains and concerns that the next season may also perform poorly. He warned that any delay in large-scale intervention could result in preventable deaths.
“This year’s drought is far worse than 2023. We noted that anything short of a massive, large-scale intervention risks preventable loss of life—especially following the failure of the OND rains, and the possibility that subsequent seasons may also underperform,” he said.
While acknowledging the County Government’s ongoing efforts in supplying water, distributing food, and offering health and nutrition services, Maalim said these measures alone cannot handle the scope of the crisis.
“While the County has acted decisively, our response alone is not nearly enough to match the scale and speed of the crisis,” the Deputy Governor stated.
He also pointed out that initiatives to protect livelihoods have helped communities withstand some of the worst impacts of the drought compared to previous years.
Ali encouraged partners to expand their support, calling for faster and broader interventions to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
“We remain grateful to all our partners for their continued solidarity and support as we work together to protect lives and safeguard livelihoods,” he concluded.
