The Kenya Red Cross Society has sounded an alarm about families in Turkana County facing extreme hardship as a long‑lasting drought crisis continues to destroy lives and livelihoods.
In a statement on April 10, the Red Cross said that many families no longer have enough food and are now forced to survive by boiling wild fruit.
The authority stated that the fruit must be boiled for up to 24 hours to remove toxins and make it safe to eat, a clear sign of how desperate the situation has become.
The severity of the crisis was seen during a recent visit by the Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, Henk Jan Bakker.
“During a visit, the Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, H.E, saw families resorting to boiling wild fruit, an intensive process that can take up to 24 hours, to make it safe for consumption,” read part of the statement.
Drought Crisis Puts Children and Vulnerable Families at Risk in Turkana
According to the Kenya Red Cross, in one village in Loima, Turkana, health workers screened 100 children and found that 80 were suffering from moderate malnutrition, while 20 were severely malnourished.
Also Read: Kenya Met Warns of More Floods and Drought Amid Unpredictable Weather
The Red Cross says the drought crisis has dried up water sources, killed livestock, and left families without food or income. Many people now travel long distances in search of water, only to find that water points are empty.
With livestock gone and food scarce, communities that depend on pastoralism are struggling to cope. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are at risk.
The Kenya Red Cross noted that, working with its partners, it continues to provide emergency assistance, including food, nutrition support for malnourished children, and clean water.
However, the organization warns that the situation has not improved and could get worse without more urgent support.
“Kenya Red Cross, with support from partners, continues to provide life-saving assistance,” stated Kenya Red Cross.
The Red Cross is calling for increased humanitarian assistance to help families survive and prevent further loss of life as the drought continues to affect Turkana County.
Drought Crisis Sparks Alarm Over Slow Response as Food Insecurity Worsens
In March, Members of the Turkana County Assembly (MCAs) raised alarm over a slow and uneven government response to the ongoing drought crisis affecting all 30 wards in the arid county, which remains at the alert stage with worsening conditions.
Also Read: DP Kindiki Sets Stage for Drought Mitigation in 32 High-Risk Counties
During the County Assembly sitting, MCAs said more than 120,000 households are facing severe food insecurity due to failed rainy seasons, shrinking water sources, degraded rangelands, and declining livestock productivity.
Lokichar MCA Samwel Lomodo said some villages in Turkana have little or no food and water, forcing many pastoralist families to survive on wild fruits and other desperate coping measures.
Nominated MCA Mary Nakwapwan criticized delays in responding to the crisis, saying relief efforts have not matched the level of suffering across the county.
“It has taken us too long to respond,” she said. “Livestock are emaciated, and many families, even in Lodwar town, are going for days without a decent meal.”
She warned that relying on aid for too long was not a solution and called for lasting investments to help communities cope with future droughts.
“For how long will Turkana residents depend on relief food? We must focus on sustainable projects such as functional boreholes and irrigation schemes,” Nakwapwan said.
The MCAs urged both county and national governments to move faster in delivering relief food, water trucking, and other emergency support, warning that without urgent action, the drought crisis could turn into a full‑scale disaster.
