Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has declared the ongoing drought in parts of the country a national disaster, warning that thousands of Kenyans are on the brink of survival.
Speaking shortly after landing in Nairobi on Thursday evening from a tour of the United States, Kalonzo said the situation in North Eastern Kenya and other affected regions had escalated beyond a seasonal challenge and now required urgent, coordinated national intervention.
“I have just landed from Washington, and I must speak plainly about the grave crisis confronting our nation,” he said in a statement released upon arrival.
The Wiper leader described the drought as a humanitarian emergency that has devastated livelihoods, wiped out livestock herds and displaced families.
He noted that pastoral communities were bearing the brunt of prolonged dry conditions, with water sources shrinking and grazing fields depleted.
“Children are going to bed hungry. Mothers are walking for hours in search of clean water. Communities are watching helplessly as their livestock — their only wealth and dignity — perish before their eyes,” he stated.
Kalonzo formally termed the unfolding situation a “national disaster,” arguing that the scale of suffering demands decisive leadership and immediate relief measures at the national level.
He called for emergency food distribution, urgent water supply interventions, livestock support programmes and direct humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable households.
According to him, no region should be left behind as the country confronts worsening food insecurity.
“A nation cannot claim prosperity while a section of its people suffers,” he said, adding that the crisis calls for honesty, courage and unity.
The Wiper Party leader further pledged to work with county governments, development partners and the international community to mobilise resources for rapid response.
He stressed that drought in northern Kenya must be treated as a national concern affecting the entire Republic, not a regional issue.
In a pointed remark, Kalonzo criticised what he termed bureaucratic delays in addressing emergencies, saying the moment required compassion and tangible action.
“This is not a time for delay. Every life matters. Every child matters. Every Kenyan matters,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing concern over food insecurity in arid and semi-arid counties, with humanitarian agencies warning that prolonged dry spells continue to strain already vulnerable communities.