Kenya

04 June 2024

In June 2024, Kenya is grappling with a vaccine shortage amid a measles outbreak. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), measles, polio, rotavirus, tetanus, and other essential vaccines are unavailable in various facilities. Kakuma camp has exhausted its buffer stocks of the BCG vaccine, oral polio vaccine (OPV), and rotavirus vaccine, with current supplies projected to last one month. A similar crisis is emerging in Hagadera and Dadaab camps, where only 60 OPV doses remain. This heightens the risk of preventable outbreaks with severe consequences, including lifelong disabilities and fatalities among children. Frequent cross-border movement and nomadic lifestyles put communities along Kenya's borders, particularly in Turkana and Garissa counties, at heightened susceptibility. Refugees are at particular risk given the continuous influx of new refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring regions. The porous borders aggravate the situation, with inadequate disease surveillance systems, particularly at the numerous informal entry points along the Somali border (IRC 04/06/2024, The Standard 02/06/2024, Nation 19/05/2024)

07 May 2024

In May 2024, tensions and unrest are escalating in Kakuma refugee camp and the neighbouring Kalobeyei integrated settlement in Turkana West following a reduction in food rations in April. The 60% reduction in food aid has triggered protests in both areas. Media reports have highlighted instances of violence, including a child being shot in Kakuma and another left injured during the unrest. Cash assistance has replaced food distributions, but many refugees express concerns about its adequacy in meeting their basic needs. Without adequate assistance, more than 270,000 refugees are at risk of malnutrition and may resort to coping mechanisms with harmful outcomes, including transactional sex and theft. (USCRI 06/05/2024, The Standard accessed 18/04/2024, The Standard 01/04/2024)

30 April 2024

As at 28 April 2024, heavy rains and flash floods had caused significant devastation across Kenya, resulting in over 100 fatalities, 29 injuries, and 21 individuals reported missing. The disaster has displaced approximately 150,300 people and affected nearly 191,000 individuals. It has also led to the loss of over 4,800 livestock, damaged 27,700 acres of croplands, and disrupted 260 businesses and 24 schools. As a result, the reopening of schools, initially scheduled for 29 April, has been postponed to 6 May. The damage has rendered impassable some essential roads, such as the Garissa-Nairobi and Dadaab-Garissa roads, aggravating the situation. The displaced population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical services, and NFIs. (OCHA 29/04/2024, The Guardian 29/04/2024, ECHO 30/04/2024)

15 April 2024

Since 9 April 2024, heavy rains and flash floods in Kenya have led to the death of more than 13 people, with an estimated 15,000 people displaced. The March–May rainy season has brought about intense storms, rising river levels, infrastructure damage, and livestock and property losses. Impeded road access across various regions is disrupting access to essential services, including markets and healthcare facilities. Particularly affected counties include Garissa, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Kitui, Marsabit, Meru, Murang’a, Nairobi, Tana River, and Turkana, where several roads are inundated. Affected populations require shelter and increased healthcare access. Despite efforts to address immediate needs such as food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical aid, and evacuation support, persistent challenges remain. The Kenya Meteorological Department warns of continued heavy rainfall with the likelihood of flash floods in several parts of the country, including the Highlands, Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Southeastern lowlands, Coastal, Northwestern, and Northeastern regions. (OCHA 11/04/2024, VOA 12/04/2024, ECHO 12/04/2024)

07 December 2023

As at 6 November 2023, heavy rains in different parts of Kenya had displaced over 529,000 people, with over 160 fatalities reported. Health authorities have confirmed 105 cholera cases and three related deaths in Lamu county. Access constraints are limiting the response, with damaged roads and bridges cutting off some areas. (Capital News 06/12/2023, Citizen 05/12/2023)

21 November 2023

Flooding from the heavy rains that began on 8 November 2023 has affected nearly 25,000 people in refugee camps in Dadaab (Garissa). Bridges and roads have been damaged or destroyed, preventing humanitarian organisations from accessing affected areas. These include the Dadaab refugee complex, home to 300,000 refugees, most of whom are from Somalia. Some of the affected people are sheltering in schools or with other refugee families, leading to overcrowding in many households. The most urgent needs include shelter, clean drinking water, and food supplies. Poor WASH conditions are likely to worsen the humanitarian condition of affected people. Prior to the floods, half of Dadaab's residents did not have access to functional latrines. Flooding can increase the risk of outbreaks of waterborne diseases, such as cholera. The Deyr rainy season lasts from early October to December. (UNHCR 17/11/2023, MSF 21/11/2023)

26 May 2023

The Horn of Africa is facing a humanitarian crisis caused by climatic change and insecurity. The 2020–2022 drought displaced 2.7 million people and killed 13 million livestock. Deteriorating livelihoods, poor economic conditions, and insecurity are driving hunger, with more than 20 million people needing food assistance in Ethiopia, 1.2 million facing emergency levels of need in Kenya, and 6.6 million in Somalia anticipating Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels in June 2023. Approximately 1.2 million children, including 528,000 in Ethiopia, 242,500 in Kenya, and 478,000 in Somalia, will suffer from severe acute malnutrition. In Somalia, acute food insecurity is projected to deteriorate through June 2023, bringing 40,350 people to Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) food insecurity levels and facing starvation as a result of drought, high prices, and conflict. The 2023 humanitarian response is only 20% funded, with significant programming cuts expected. (OCHA 26/05/2023, DRC 21/05/2023, WFP 29/05/2023)