Kenya loses over one mln livestock to drought

NAIROBI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has lost over a million livestock to drought in the past months in a crisis that continues to ravage at least 23 arid and semi-arid regions, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) said on Wednesday.

The east African nation, according to NDMA, has lost some 1.04 million animals comprising 224,390 cattle, 774,097 goats and sheep and 45,152 camels due to starvation and diseases.

The most affected arid and semi-arid regions are in the Rift Valley and North Eastern parts of the country.

"The drought situation continues to worsen in 16 of the 23 arid counties. This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 short rains coupled with previous two failed consecutive seasons and late onset of the 2022 long rains season," said NDMA in an April report.

It notes that the drought conditions are worsening with pasture and water situations remaining below average due to depressed rains received in March.

Kenya is among countries in the Horn of Africa that is enduring the worst drought in decades.