Kenya — humanitarian situation

Kenya's humanitarian situation remains shaped by recurring climate shocks and structural vulnerabilities, particularly affecting populations in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The country faces anticipated impacts from an emerging El Niño expected from mid-2026, which forecasts indicate could reach moderate to strong intensity (IASC, IFRC, OCHA). This climate pattern arrives amid record global temperatures and follows cycles of intense droughts and sporadic floods that have created recurring disaster conditions (ODI). Analysis suggests significant potential implications for agriculture, food security, livestock, and markets across the region (WHH). The chronic heat conditions affecting East Africa are projected to become increasingly severe as global temperatures rise, with populations in tropical and subtropical climates facing sustained exposure to high temperatures and humidity (UNDRR). WFP reports reaching 1.3 million people in June 2026, including 368,000 drought-affected individuals, refugees, and smallholder farmers through food assistance, cash transfers, and capacity strengthening (WFP). The organization complemented government-led emergency school meals programming, reaching 225,000 learners across 882 schools. Kenya continues to host refugee populations from neighbouring countries, with regional displacement dynamics linked to situations in Burundi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia (UNHCR). Structural inequalities persist, with ASAL populations suffering from inadequate government services, limited investment, and restricted economic opportunities compared to urban centres like Nairobi (ODI). The humanitarian response operates amid competing pressures on natural resources, with refugee and host communities experiencing limited livelihood opportunities and intensifying competition over water, energy, forests, and land (IWMI). The purchasing power of affected populations remains constrained, affecting food security outcomes (WFP). UNHAS transported 890 passengers and 3 metric tons of light humanitarian cargo, serving 36 agencies (WFP). While Kenya advances health security initiatives, including becoming the first East African country to launch six-month HIV prevention injections and developing local vaccine manufacturing capacity (WHO), humanitarian actors continue addressing immediate needs through networks like the ASAL Humanitarian Network, which focuses on collective responses to recurring disasters (ODI).