Drought impacts many students in Kenya

Over 3.5 million children in Kenya will be out of school when schools reopen for the first term in January next year, due to the ongoing drought.

A 2021 study by the Global Out of School Children Initiative revealed that there are more than two million children aged between four to 17 years that have been out of school since the third term of 2021. (CapitalFM Kenya report 6/12/22)

Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Turkana and Marsabit are among the worst affected counties. Currently, 4.4 million people are affected by a severe food insecurity crisis. The situation in the north and north-east regions is extreme, and there are signs the drought is moving further south.

This drought has not affected schools in Kakamega County where CES Canada is working. However, schools like St Cecilia Misikhu Girls HS (supported by CES since 2010) are now rationing their water supply.

The picture above shows boarding school students managing their own two-day supply of water for all their needs.