A new report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) warns that Kenya is trapped in a perpetual humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by deep-rooted inequalities and weak governance, rather than solely by climate shocks.

• The ODI report, titled ‘Governing Inequality: Kenya’s State, Aid Politics and Perpetual Humanitarian Crisis’, argues that structural inequality and underinvestment in state institutions are key drivers.
• Key figures include Dustin Barter, a senior researcher at ODI, who emphasized that the aid system has allowed the state to abdicate its responsibilities.
• The report highlights that communities in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (Asals) disproportionately suffer from chronic food insecurity and limited public investment, despite devolution efforts.