Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna has issued the latest update on the country's food security situation.
On Saturday, Oguna revealed that some 2.6 million people across 23 arid and semi-arid areas are at the risk of facing starvation.
He noted that the affected population is in dire need of relief food. The data also shows that out of the said population, 623,000 are children and 69,000 pregnant and lactating mothers.
Oguna added that Turkana has 250,000 children aged under five starving, which makes it one of the most affected in the entire nation.
The report names Laisamis, Turkana North and Turkana South as the worst-hit areas amid the ongoing drought in different parts of the countries.
Other affected parts include Moyale, Turkana Central, Turkana West, Baringo, Tana River and Samburu.
“Eight out of the 23 counties are severely affected by drought and require urgent enhanced relief food assistance. They include Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo, Embu and Kitui,” said Mr Oguna, as quoted by Daily Nation.
Oguna also said that the national government has since set aside Sh3.7 billion to fight drought. The government plans to use Sh. 2.9 billion of the said amount to purchase relief food. The food will be distributed to different parts of the country.