Kenya Red Cross: Tiaty in Baringo among worst-hit by malnutrition as drought worsens
By Ascah Mwango, January 28, 2026Baringo County is facing a worsening drought crisis, with Tiaty Sub-County reporting alarming cases of malnutrition.
The Kenya Red Cross has raised concerns over the situation, noting that while some areas in the county are relatively dry, Tiaty is experiencing a severe humanitarian impact.
Speaking on a local radio station on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris highlighted the uneven nature of the drought across the country. He explained that although the wider Baringo region is dry, it is not as critically affected as Tiaty, where malnutrition levels are particularly high.
“This particular drought has a nuance, when you look at a county, one region is holistically bad, and another sub-county is not that critical. One example is Baringo, the wider Baringo is relatively dry but not really bad, but if you focus on Tiaty as a Sub-County, the numbers are critical,” he said.
“In fact, Tiaty has one of the worst cases of malnutrition.”
He expressed concern over the coming months, noting that Kenya still faces two months of no rain, and when the rains eventually arrive, they may not be sufficient to ease the crisis.
“The situation is deteriorating. What is more is we still have two more months of no rain, and when we get the rains, it might not be good rains,” Idris stated.
Residents in Tiaty are struggling as water and food resources dwindle. The prolonged dry spell has affected crops and livestock, worsening food insecurity. Health facilities have also reported increasing numbers of children showing signs of malnutrition, a trend that threatens the well-being of the most vulnerable communities.
Mandera
Elsewhere, drought in Mandera County has caused severe devastation, with reports indicating that more than seventy cattle have died.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that Chabii Barr in Rhamu Sub-County is among the areas hardest hit by the extreme dry conditions.
“In Rhamu Sub-County, Mandera, the drought’s impact is severe. Our team found over 70 livestock carcasses in Chabii Barr, highlighting the urgent need for intervention,” the Red Cross announced.
“In response, 28,000 litres of water were delivered and 120 bags of fortified porridge distributed to children under five, pregnant and lactating women, alongside ongoing medical outreach. Kenya Red Cross is on the ground supporting affected communities,” the organisation said.