Turkana County is grappling with a severe and widespread humanitarian emergency following a prolonged drought that has left an estimated 450,000 residents across its seven sub-counties facing acute food and water shortages. This crisis has led to dried-up boreholes, depleted pasture, and a devastating loss of livestock, pushing communities to the brink. Areas such as Nachukui, Kaaleng, Nakinomet, the Kalobeyei corridor, Kaputir, Namorukot, Kapedo, and the Kanamkemer lowlands report that many boreholes have either collapsed or are yielding salty, unsafe water. Families are enduring daily treks for hours in search of water, with many households surviving on just one meal a day or, in some cases, none at all.

The dire situation is forcing pastoralist families to adopt desperate measures, including migrating across the border into Uganda in a desperate search for water and pasture to save their remaining animals. This movement underscores the escalating severity of the crisis. Turkana's Members of Parliament have collectively called for urgent national intervention. Turkana West MP Daniel Epuyo highlighted that all seven sub-counties are experiencing severe drought conditions, with widespread pasture depletion and critical water sources drying up. The MPs warned of potential fatalities within three weeks if immediate action is not taken, urging the National Treasury to release emergency funds, increase relief food distribution, and enhance security along livestock migration routes.

In contrast, County Commissioner Julius Kavita offered a more cautious assessment, stating that the situation had not yet reached an alarming stage and that his office had not received reports of drought-related deaths from local chiefs. He noted that the national government had increased food supplies and was closely monitoring distribution. However, residents paint a grim picture of daily life, marked by chronic food scarcity, arduous journeys for water, and profound uncertainty about the future. The drought has particularly devastated pastoralist households, whose survival is inextricably linked to their livestock. Herds, once the backbone of income and nutrition, have perished en masse due to months without adequate pasture or water. Lomuria Nakiru from the Kanamkemer lowlands lamented, “Most of my goats have died. Without livestock, we cannot trade, we cannot feed our children, and we cannot survive.” Community elders report that some villages have seen households lose hundreds of animals, leaving them with none. Increasingly, women and children are left behind as men migrate with the few surviving animals along insecure routes.

Against this backdrop, the New Life Prayer Centre Church, in partnership with the county government, delivered emergency food aid worth KSh45 million to vulnerable households in Turkana Central and Loima sub-counties. The distribution, overseen by Mama Rose, targeted the elderly, widows, breastfeeding mothers, and child-headed households identified through vulnerability assessments. Areas such as Lokipetot, Loturerei, Nakechichok, and Kangalita received essential items including maize, beans, and cooking oil. Beneficiaries expressed immense relief; Kevina Loyenai from Lokipetot shared, “I am breastfeeding and have not eaten for two days. This food has restored my strength and hope.” Sylvia Nakiru from Kangalita echoed the sentiment, stating, “We have lost most of our animals. Life has become unbearable.” The exercise was supervised by Peter Yoromoe, KISDEP coordinator, and Paul Ekeno Lodunga, County Chief Officer for Education and Social Protection.

Two weeks prior, Turkana MPs had raised an alarm over the worsening drought. Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai subsequently confirmed the launch of a county emergency programme aimed at assisting 77,000 households with maize and cooking oil. Priority wards for this aid include Nanam, Lokichoggio, and Song’ot in Lokichoggio Sub-County; Kibish, Lakezone, and Lapur in Turkana North; Kalapata in Turkana South; and Kerio Ward in Turkana Central. Despite these efforts, analysts caution that emergency food assistance alone is insufficient to resolve the crisis. Drought resilience analyst David Ekiru emphasized, “Food aid is necessary but not sufficient. What Turkana urgently needs is rehabilitation of boreholes, livestock off-take programmes, and climate-smart investments. The next three months will determine whether the county slides into famine.” Residents in remote areas like Kapedo and Namorukot continue to highlight water scarcity as their most significant challenge. Ekiru Ekamais from Lokipoto articulated the profound impact, saying, “This drought is breaking our spirits. Children are weak, animals are dying, and we do not know what tomorrow will bring.” As more families trek across borders and vast distances in search of water and pasture, humanitarian organizations warn that Turkana is not merely facing a drought, but a prolonged crisis that is fundamentally reshaping livelihoods and severely testing the resilience of its people.