Update: Drought in Kenya

You may have seen in the news recently about the developing situation in Kenya. We’ve been heartbroken to learn that more than 2.1 million people are affected because of a below-average harvest owing to the lack of rainfall, leading to drought conditions. This number is expected to rise to nearly 2.4 million people in November if the rains don’t come in October. As a result, families and communities, primarily across northern and eastern Kenya, are facing acute food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, pests and diseases have also contributed to this situation.

On September 8, 2021, Kenya’s president declared the drought a national disaster. Poor rainy seasons, coupled with the COVID 19 pandemic and swarms of locusts, have caused huge food insecurity in large parts of Kenya.
Much of Kenya’s north has received less than 30% of average rainfall. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network claim this has been the worst short-rain season recorded in decades. Barren pastures and dying livestock have exacerbated food shortages. Water shortages are a given.

Compassion’s Response

Compassion is currently assessing the situation to respond effectively. Our church partners are ideally placed to help distribute aid and support those most vulnerable.

Since 5 October, our church partners in Kenya have been assessing the need and supporting Compassion sponsored children living in the area. We’ll get in touch with sponsors if there are individual updates to share.

Elia and Eunice’s story

“We went to school knowing there was no food at home.” – Elia, 10.

Sending our children to school hungry is every parent’s nightmare. But for Eunice in Kenya, it was a devastating reality. Widowed and reliant on the land and her livestock to feed her family, Eunice struggled due to a lack of water and pastureland.

Elia, one of her sons, is registered in the local Compassion project. The project has provided 284 families in the area with money to buy food and supplies through intervention funds. Eunice is thankful for this support, and Project Director Emma says, “We have demonstrated God’s love to families who have felt the Lord working in their lives through our supporters. As a result, their trust and hope in the Lord has been deepened and renewed.”

Thank you to everyone who has donated generously to Compassion Interventions, enabling us to help vulnerable families like Eunice’s.

Prayer Points

• Please pray that God would provide the rain needed to sustain the families who would be severely impacted in a drought.
• Pray that the Government and our church partners can provide aid and support for those who desperately need it.

Father God, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Kenya.
God, we ask that you quench the land in Kenya, that you would send life-giving rain.
We pray for government leaders to receive great strength and wisdom as they seek to help people in great need.
Lord, you are merciful and mighty.
In Jesus’ name, amen.