Kenya hit by its worst drought in 40 years

Kenya is facing its worst drought it has seen in 40 years due to the lack of rainfall. The country has experienced four consecutive rainy seasons that have failed to provide sufficient amounts of water. The Turkana County in Northern Kenya has not seen substantial rainfall for the last two years.

The drought has led to serious problems for the country. Low water supplies have meant that families are finding it difficult to source water to drink, both for themselves and for their livestock. Crops are not growing due to the lack of water, which is causing severe malnutrition as people are struggling to get enough to eat. The lack of both water and food is also killing livestock.

Rearing livestock is one of the main ways in which Kenyan’s living in rural areas make money to provide for their families. Without this money, thousands of people are struggling to survive.

Due to these devastating issues, in 2021, Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, declared the drought to be a national disaster.

It has been predicted that the next rainy season which is due later this year will be similar to the last. If it is a dry rainy season again there will be further consequences for Kenya.

If the rain does fall heavier than is expected the crops should recover and regrow pretty quickly. However, the loss of livestock will be much harder to recover, due to the number of animals that have been lost.

The rising temperatures in Kenya are not only causing concern in regards to its lack of rainfall but also due to its increase in locusts. Due to the hotter temperatures caused by climate change swarms of locusts are increasing in size and they are becoming much more frequent.

Farmers are now faced with crops dying from a lack of water and also through being ruined by locust swarms. In some areas of Kenya, it is difficult to see the ground. Not only do these locusts ruin crops but they also leave livestock hurt and unhealthy.

Scientists have stated that if temperatures continue to rise due to global warming, then these swarms of locusts are going to get worse, and droughts are going to become much more frequent.