The drought crisis in Meru County has escalated, leaving more than 600,000 residents in urgent need of food assistance, according to the Meru County Steering Committee. With a county population of about 1.5 million, this means nearly half of all residents are now affected. Officials warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with communities struggling to cope as rivers dry up, crops fail, and households lose their means of survival. Among the most severely hit are school-going children, as dozens of learning institutions report rising cases of malnutrition.
County Commissioner Frederick Ndunga, who co-chairs the steering committee alongside the Meru Governor, said the county has formed a structured team to coordinate all incoming food aid and relief support. The multi-agency network—stretching from county headquarters to chiefs on the ground—is meant to curb diversion of food donations and ensure transparency in distribution. Authorities have also begun mapping schools that urgently require school feeding programmes, with 39 schools already flagged as critically affected. Some children, officials noted, now need specialised nutritional support due to worsening malnourishment.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Meru coordinator, Godana Noor, cautioned that the crisis could intensify in the coming weeks, as forecasts point to significantly low rainfall this season. With the likelihood of reduced harvests, communities are being urged to plant fast-maturing, drought-tolerant crops to withstand the harsh conditions. Meru now joins ten counties currently in the Alert drought phase, including Embu, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni, Narok, Nyeri (Kieni), Taita Taveta, Kwale, and Kilifi. Humanitarian agencies and county officials are appealing for accelerated support to prevent the situation from sliding into an emergency.