A deepening nutrition crisis is threatening the lives of thousands of children in Turkana County, as humanitarian agencies warn of worsening conditions driven by prolonged drought and limited access to essential services.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, an estimated 95,913 children in Turkana are currently acutely malnourished.
Of these, 76,638 are suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, placing them at risk of deteriorating into severe cases, while 19,275 children are already battling severe acute malnutrition and require urgent medical intervention.
The situation is further compounded by the vulnerability of mothers, with at least 31,272 pregnant and breastfeeding women also in need of immediate nutritional support.
In Epur village in Loima Sub-County, recent screenings paint a grim picture of the crisis.
Health workers reported that 20 out of every 100 children assessed within the past week were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, highlighting the rapid escalation of the emergency at the community level.
The Kenya Red Cross has attributed the crisis to persistent drought conditions that have devastated livelihoods, reduced food availability, and weakened already fragile health systems in the region.
The organisation warns that critical gaps in nutrition supplies and health services continue to hinder response efforts.
“Without immediate intervention, the situation is likely to deteriorate further, pushing affected families to adopt unsafe coping mechanisms,” the agency cautioned.
Humanitarian actors are now calling for urgent support to scale up life-saving interventions, including therapeutic feeding programs, community screenings, and support for vulnerable households.
As drought continues to grip northern Kenya, aid agencies emphasise that swift and coordinated action will be crucial in preventing further loss of life and safeguarding the health of children and mothers in Turkana and other affected counties.