Drought Crisis Deepens in Kenya as SUPKEM Calls for National Emergency Declaration
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has raised alarm over Kenya’s worsening drought, warning that the crisis has escalated into a humanitarian emergency that threatens lives, livelihoods, and social stability across the country.
In a press statement led by SUPKEM National Chairman Alh-haaji Hasaan Ole Naadi, the council said the drought is no longer confined to agriculture but has evolved into a dual emergency of food and water insecurity, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties.
Citing the latest Kenya Drought Report by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), SUPKEM noted a sharp increase in the number of food-insecure households during the February–March 2025 period compared to the previous year. The situation has been aggravated by acute water shortages, with many families unable to access clean and safe water for household use and for sustaining their livestock.
“Communities are facing an unbearable burden. Families are struggling to find water for survival, while livestock losses continue to rise, eroding the main source of income for pastoral households,” the statement read.
Kenya has 23 ASAL counties nine classified as arid and 14 as semi-arid which remain the hardest hit. SUPKEM said these regions have been pushed deeper into crisis by the failure of the October–December 2024 short rains, which severely affected crop production and water availability, reversing gains made in earlier seasons.
The council identified multiple factors worsening the situation, including widespread crop failure, low agricultural productivity, high fuel and fertilizer costs, and increased outbreaks of pests and diseases. These challenges, SUPKEM warned, are now spilling over into health, education, and local economies, placing millions at risk by late 2025 and early 2026.
SUPKEM has urged the Government of Kenya to urgently mobilize all available water resources, including water tankers from the National Youth Service, the Kenya Defence Forces, and the Ministry of Water Resources, to provide immediate relief to affected communities.
The Muslim umbrella body also called on President William Ruto to declare the drought a national emergency, saying such a move would accelerate the mobilization and coordination of resources needed to avert further loss of life and livelihoods.
As the country approaches the holy month of Ramadhan, SUPKEM appealed to national and county governments, humanitarian agencies, faith-based institutions, and individuals to act with urgency and compassion.
“This is a moment for collective responsibility and solidarity,” the statement said, urging all stakeholders to respond decisively to ease the suffering of vulnerable Kenyans and prevent the crisis from spiraling further.
