The European Union has announced €250,000 (about Sh40 million) in humanitarian aid to help Kenyan communities facing a worsening convergence of drought, floods, food insecurity and disease outbreaks. The funding will be routed through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support operations by the Kenya Red Cross Society.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the EU said the allocation responds to Kenya’s “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, marked by prolonged drought, severe flooding, and fast-spreading disease outbreaks.” The six-month emergency program, running until May 2026, will target more than 150,000 people with lifesaving assistance in the hardest-hit areas.
- Advertisement -
Kenya’s overlapping crises are deepening humanitarian needs. More than 1.8 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, a total projected to rise to 2.1 million by January 2026. Shrinking water sources, rising malnutrition and a decline in humanitarian financing are intensifying pressure across arid and semi-arid lands.
The EU said its support will enable the Kenya Red Cross Society to provide essential food assistance, clean water, cash support, health care and protection services to the most affected communities. The operation is designed to respond quickly to immediate needs while shoring up fragile services strained by back-to-back climate shocks.
Consecutive failed rains have left 179,000 people in emergency conditions and put 741,000 children and 109,000 pregnant or lactating women at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the latest assessments. At the same time, recent heavy rains have triggered flooding and landslides, destroying homes and livelihoods and complicating access for relief providers.
Public health threats are compounding the crisis. Cholera is spreading in Narok and Nairobi counties, with a 9% case fatality rate reported in Narok. Communities in arid and semi-arid regions remain at high risk of other waterborne and zoonotic diseases as water sources dwindle or are contaminated by floodwaters.
The EU contribution will be disbursed through the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund, a mechanism established in 1979 to allow National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, such as Kenya’s, to immediately access funds when crises strike without waiting for international appeals. Earlier this year, the European Commission signed a €16 million agreement to replenish the fund, which provides rapid, flexible financing for small- to medium-scale emergencies.
“The EU’s emergency contribution will enable the Kenya Red Cross Society to provide essential food assistance, clean water, cash support, healthcare, and protection services to the most affected communities,” the EU said.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the combination of climate shocks and disease outbreaks is eroding already thin coping capacities. As donor resources tighten, the latest EU support is expected to plug urgent gaps in food, nutrition and health programs while complementing ongoing efforts by local authorities and aid partners.
The Kenya Red Cross aims to prioritize households in the most vulnerable counties, with interventions tailored to evolving conditions—ranging from emergency food and cash transfers to water treatment, hygiene promotion and disease surveillance. With forecasts pointing to continued weather volatility, responders say sustained, flexible funding is critical to keep pace with fast-changing needs on the ground.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
