Garissa Governor Warns of Deepening Drought as Thousands Face Starvation
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has issued a stark warning over the rapidly worsening drought in the county, saying the prolonged dry spell has pushed communities to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Speaking after chairing an emergency meeting with national and county government officials as well as development partners on Tuesday, the governor said the effects of the drought are now being felt across all subcounties, with water scarcity, depleted grazing fields, and failing livelihoods becoming increasingly severe.
According to Governor Jama, four consecutive failed rainy seasons have devastated the region, leaving families and pastoralists struggling to survive. The latest report from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) places Garissa under the alert drought phase, warning that the situation is deteriorating. More than 33,000 households are already facing acute food shortages as rivers dry up, boreholes strain under heavy demand, and livestock suffer from dwindling pasture. The governor stressed that without swift action, the county risks losing substantial livestock and wildlife populations that support the local economy.
During the crisis meeting, county officials outlined ongoing mitigation efforts, including trucking water to over 200 settlements. However, Jama said the response needs to be scaled up urgently as more communities become affected each day. Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring called on NGOs, humanitarian agencies, and development partners to intensify their interventions and work closely with government coordination teams. He added that the national government is exploring commercial livestock offtake through the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to cushion pastoralists from further losses.
NDMA County Coordinator Abdinoor Dubow said both levels of government are mobilising available resources but warned that forecasts of below-average rainfall mean the county must prepare for an even tougher season. Among the resolutions reached during the meeting were the immediate repair of county water bowsers, increased collaboration at subcounty level, and joint maintenance of key boreholes to prevent breakdowns as open water sources continue to dry up. Leaders urged continued and coordinated action to prevent the drought from escalating into a full-scale humanitarian emergency, stressing the need for long-term climate resilience investments to protect the region from recurring crises.