Drought a ‘ticking time bomb’ and humanitarian disaster, Muslim leaders warn

National Chairman Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado/FILE

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims has warned that the worsening drought is now a full-scale humanitarian emergency, urging swift national action to save lives and livelihoods.

In a press statement signed by National Chairman Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado, the council said the unfolding crisis goes far beyond agriculture.

It described the situation as “not just an agricultural crisis; it is a humanitarian disaster that threatens the very fabric of our communities.”

The statement links rising hunger to a severe shortage of water, saying both problems are tightly connected.

Citing the Kenya Drought Report by the International Federation of the Red Cross, the council noted that the food-insecure population rose significantly in the February–March 2025 period compared to the previous year.

Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado said the figures show a deepening emergency that cannot be ignored. He stressed that the crisis is “deeply intertwined with a critical lack of water access, which is equally urgent and devastating.”

According to the statement, access to clean and safe water has become “critically limited.”

Families are struggling to secure water for domestic use and for their livestock. Livestock are described as essential to livelihoods in the affected regions.

The council warned that the combined pressure of hunger and thirst is a ticking time bomb that could result in “irreversible suffering and loss” if not addressed.

Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado issued an urgent appeal to the state to step in with immediate support.

The council said, “We urgently call upon the Government of Kenya to mobilize its water resources, including water tankers from the National Youth Service, the Military, and the Ministry of Water Resources, to provide immediate help and support to the affected communities.”

He added that such a coordinated effort is “essential for alleviating the suffering and preventing further loss of life and livelihoods.”

The statement outlines the scale of exposure across the country. Kenya has 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land counties, nine classified as arid and fourteen as semi-arid. These areas are identified as the hardest hit.

The council said the effects of climate change and inadequate rainfall have compounded long-standing vulnerabilities faced by local communities.

Poor rainfall has worsened the situation. The below-normal short rains between October and December 2024 “severely stressed agricultural production and water availability.”

Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado said these failures “reversed the gains made in previous seasons,” leading to a renewed slide into both food and water insecurity.

Several factors are blamed for the deterioration. The statement lists “widespread crop failures, low agricultural productivity, high fuel and fertilizer costs, and increased pests and diseases.”

The impact is not limited to food shortages. The council said the consequences are affecting “health, education, and economic stability in these communities.”

By late 2025 and early 2026, conditions had worsened sharply. The council said millions are now at risk. Communities in ASAL counties are facing “severe hardships,” with warnings that vulnerabilities may persist until the next rainy season.

Framing the situation as a shared duty, Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado said the country is facing a crisis that demands immediate and concerted action.

The council called on the national government, county governments in affected areas, Muslim well-wishers, institutions and partners to mobilise emergency resources.

It reported that local populations are sending distress calls as livestock losses rise and water shortages become more critical.

The chairman also made a direct appeal to the Head of State. “We call upon the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto, to declare a national emergency.”

The statement says such a move is vital to facilitate the mobilisation and deployment of necessary resources to combat this worsening situation.

The message is framed within a religious context. The statement opens with a verse from the Holy Quran: “We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure-who say, when struck by a disaster, ‘Surely to Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

As Ramadhan approaches, the council linked the appeal to the spirit of the season.

It described the period as a month dedicated to compassion and generosity, and urged all stakeholders-government, NGOs, and individuals-to respond to this urgent crisis.

The statement concludes, “Together, we can alleviate the suffering of our fellow Kenyans, embodying the spirit of solidarity that defines our shared humanity.”