Addressing Drought in Northern Kenya Requires Innovative Approaches

Around a third of Kenyans live in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Kenya, which constitutes 80 % of Kenya’s landmass. In Northern Kenya, temperatures have risen 0.34 degrees C (.6 F) per decade since 1985, according to U.S government data. This temperature change is fueling more severe cycles of drought.

The drought cycle has been reduced from ten years to five years. But increasingly, that cycle has been reduced to 2-3 years. While the increasing intensity and frequency of drought are predictable, there has not been a commensurate policy response to cushion the predominantly pastoralist community that relies on rain for their livelihood. The cumulative impacts of two subsequent spots of rain season has leftover. 1.4 million people facing food insecurity. According to the UN, that number is expected to go up to 2 million by the end of the year.

Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) CEO Simba Guleid shares his insights regarding policy options for dealing with drought in a sustainable means.

Recorded in September 2021.