Over 1.8 million people in Kenya are currently facing acute food insecurity, with this number projected to rise to 2.1 million by January 2026. Shrinking water sources, increasing malnutrition, and declining humanitarian funding have worsened the situation. In response, the European Union has provided emergency funding to enable the Kenya Red Cross Society to deliver essential food assistance, clean water, cash support, healthcare, and protection services to the most affected communities.
The six-month project, running until May 2026, is expected to support more than 150,000 vulnerable people impacted by overlapping crises. This funding is part of the EU’s broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) managed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which supports rapid response to emergencies.
Kenya is currently grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis as drought, floods, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks converge, putting vulnerable populations at heightened risk. Consecutive failed rains have left 179,000 people in emergency conditions and placed 741,000 children and 109,000 pregnant or lactating women at risk of acute malnutrition. Heavy rains have also triggered flooding and landslides, destroying homes and livelihoods. Meanwhile, cholera is spreading rapidly in Narok and Nairobi counties, with a 9% case fatality rate reported in Narok, while arid and semi-arid regions remain at risk of other waterborne and zoonotic diseases. These health threats, combined with shrinking humanitarian resources, are straining essential food, nutrition, and health programs, leaving vulnerable families increasingly exposed.
The European Union, together with its Member States, is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, providing relief to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and uphold the dignity of populations affected by disasters and crises. Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the EU delivers assistance to millions worldwide, prioritizing vulnerable communities based on urgent humanitarian needs.
The European Commission has signed a €16 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the IFRC to support the Disaster Response Emergency Fund. Established in 1979, the DREF provides immediate financial support to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies responding to small-scale disasters. Under this agreement, funds from the EU enable the IFRC to allocate grants for urgent operations and replenish the Fund, ensuring timely response to crises that do not require a formal international appeal.
