Drought Causes Famine, School Absences, and Agricultural Shifts in Several Counties - February 2026

Severe drought and failed rains are causing widespread hardship in Kenya. In Wajir, over 274,500 people in pastoralist communities are in distress due to failed short rains. The resulting hunger has severely disrupted learning in Northern Kenya, Isiolo, and Marsabit counties, where students are abandoning classes. This is reportedly due to the collapse of the government's school feeding program. In response to the crisis, agricultural stakeholders in Kilifi County are advising farmers to plant fast-maturing crops that require less water. Farmers in Kilifi are also adopting drought-resistant crops to cope with the challenges of climate change.