Carcass of a cow in Isiolo County where prolonged drought continues to bite. Over 3 million Kenyans and thousands of livestock are on the brink of starvation due to prolonged drought. [Photo: NMG]Over 3 million Kenyans and thousands of livestock are on the brink of starvation due to prolonged drought, which has affected food production for both human and livestock.The devastating effects of delayed rains are already being widely felt in 19 counties, mostly at the Coast, Northern Kenya and Rift Valley, where rains have been inadequate for six years, according to National Drought Management Authority, (NDMA).In Kajiado County, the Nation reports, up to 130,000 households and more than 600,000 cattle are at risk of starvation.Tana River County has lost 15 per cent of its livestock, according to the county NDMA Coordinator Abdi Mussa."The economic losses to the herders run into billions of shillings. The drought has also increased human-wildlife conflicts," says Musa as quoted by the Nation.In Kilifi, a survey by NDMA indicates that most water sources have dried up, forcing residents to travel for long distances to get the commodity for domestic and livestock consumption.In Kwale, NDMA coordinator Roman Shera said though the county was experiencing rains, armyworms were threatening food security. Shera noted that farmers recorded low yields in the last season due to the armyworm invasion.In Lamu, the NDMA adds, food shortage has been occasioned by displacement of people from their farms due to Al-Shabaab attacks.Some 2,500 people are living in camps, according to the Nation, which has left farms unattended to, leading to destruction of crops by wild animals and pests.In Taita-Taveta, food prices are said to have skyrocketed after major water sources in the county such as Mwatate Dam had dried up, says NDMA.

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