Children from a Maasai community look at the remains of an elephant that died in the drought on community land near the outskirts of Amboseli National Park on 18 December 2022 in Amboseli, Kenya. Photo: Ed Ram / Getty Images Europe / AFP
Children from a Maasai community look at the remains of an elephant that died in the drought on community land near the outskirts of Amboseli National Park on 18 December 2022 in Amboseli, Kenya. While rain has come to some parts of Amboseli National Park and the surrounding area, much of the land remains dry and wild animals have gathered in newly green areas. More than one thousand animals, including zebras and elephants, have died due to a years-long drought on wildlife in Kenya. The full effects, including the humanitarian impact, of the drought are yet to be evaluated. Photo: Ed Ram / Getty Images Europe / AFP

By Jeff Otieno
28 December 2022

(The Africa Report) – The latest climate forecast showing that the greater horn of Africa will experience its fifth consecutive failed rainy season could not have come at a worse time for its drought-stricken residents who are now forced to brace for another bout of extreme hunger.

50-year-old Jeremiah Kobia stares at the drying khat plants on his two-acre farm under a blistering sun in Igembe North constituency, Meru County.

“I have tried my best to save the plants using fertiliser and spraying pesticides but they are now dying due to lack of rain,” says Kobia of the plants whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant or drunk as an infusion.

A few kilometres from Kobia’s farm James Kitonga is also counting his losses. He recently sold his farm animals after it became untenable to sustain them due to a lack of pasture. [more]

Kenya, Somalia…latest Horn of Africa climate outlook looks dry