Over 2.5 million Kenyans are affected by the current crisis in East Africa and require humanitarian assistance – mainly in the southern agricultural areas and the northern pastoralist regions, such as Wajir, Samburu and Turkana where Oxfam is working. Oxfam is working closely with Kenyan organizations and together they are assisting over 250,000 people affected by the drought.

The pastoralist communities of Turkana are experiencing the longest period of drought in their history with their livestock dying, and are now struggling to feed themselves, reliant on Oxfam food aid. In Kenya, Oxfam’s ‘de-stocking’ programme buys up some of the weakest goats and sheep at a decent price – ensuring that their owners get an income and some vital cash before their assets die. The animals are then slaughtered to provide meat to the community.

About 900,000 vulnerable animals – belonging to 18,000 families – are also benefiting from Oxfam’s veterinarian and de-worming programmes. This ensures that the herds are smaller, and stronger and so better able to survive the drought.

Oxfam also works in the poorest urban areas of Nairobi, the capital city, where families are struggling to cope with the rising food prices and cost of living. Many people from northern Kenya also try and escape the drought by moving to the city, but work is hard to find. Oxfam provides basic services such as water and sanitation, and supports women traders – among the most affected by the rising prices – to campaign for their rights.