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Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire

A briefing paper on the drivers of food insecurity in Kenya and empowering locally led action in response to crisis.

  • 122m

    In 2023, 122 million more people were food insecure than in 2019.

Kenya, in the Horn of Africa, experienced the worst drought in 40 years, and now with the onset of El Niño is seeing heavy rains and flash flooding.

Vulnerable communities are in the midst of back-to-back crisis.

Our latest analysis shows how extreme weather caused by the climate crisis, global food prices, debt and conflict are driving the global food crisis and deepening its impacts.  

Image credits and information i
Members of the Namayana self-help group in Kamboe holding some of the milk cans they bought with a grant they received through Christian Aid’s local partner PACIDA thanks to funding from Irish Aid. Credit: Katie Cox/Christian Aid
A group of 6 women and 21 man holding in Kenya two metal milk cans. They stand in a line looking into the camera

At the height of the drought in Kenya in 2022

  • 5.4m

    people in Kenya were facing acute hunger.

  • 2.5m

    livestock died.

What is this briefing paper about?

In this briefing paper, we make the case for greater action at the national and global level through prioritising early action and delivering funding to local communities to get ahead of crisis.

We evidence how our approach which is led by communities experiencing hunger and multiple crisis to build their resilience to crisis which strengthens their ability to withstand shocks.