Kenya is facing a deepening climate and humanitarian emergency as millions struggle with hunger, water shortages, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks driven by both drought and floods. In response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a CHF 15 million emergency appeal to support the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) in delivering life-saving aid to 300,000 of the most affected people across the country’s hardest-hit counties. The appeal aims to address immediate needs while also building community resilience to withstand future climate shocks.
Across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, where 16 million people reside, water sources have dried up, crops have failed, and livestock deaths have surged. Many families now walk long distances each day in search of water, while malnutrition among children and pregnant women continues to rise. The situation has been worsened by flash floods, landslides, and outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and Rift Valley Fever. Forecasts indicate that rainfall extremes—both below-average and above-average in different regions—will further threaten lives, livelihoods, and access to safe water. Limited funding and overstretched health facilities have made it difficult for rural communities to access essential healthcare and nutrition services.
Through this appeal, the IFRC will strengthen the Kenya Red Cross’s ongoing efforts, which include providing food, cash transfers, clean water, and emergency healthcare. The funding will also enable water trucking, solar-powered borehole repairs, treatment for acute malnutrition, and the deployment of mobile health teams to remote areas. In addition, the appeal supports long-term recovery through climate-smart agriculture, livestock protection, and livelihood restoration initiatives. The Red Cross teams are also addressing protection issues, ensuring that women, children, and marginalized groups receive equitable support and that community feedback guides the response.
Recent heavy rains have intensified the crisis, with deadly landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet County killing 26 people, injuring many others, and displacing more than 150 households. Kenya Red Cross volunteers, alongside local authorities, have been on the ground evacuating survivors and delivering emergency relief despite severe access challenges. Authorities have warned of further landslides as rainfall continues, compounding the humanitarian situation.
The IFRC and KRCS have called for urgent international solidarity and collective action from governments, donors, and humanitarian partners to prevent further suffering. As climate extremes continue to push communities to the brink, the appeal emphasizes the need to ensure that no Kenyan is left without food, water, or healthcare in the face of worsening climate-related disasters.
