The European Union (EU) has announced Sh37.6 million emergency funding to support Kenyan families affected by worsening climate and health emergencies.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 9, the EU said the situation in Kenya has deteriorated significantly, and the funding aims to help the most affected communities.
“In response to Kenya’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, marked by prolonged drought, severe flooding, and fast-spreading disease outbreaks, the European Union is providing €250,000 in humanitarian aid to support affected communities facing overlapping climate and health emergencies,” read part of the statement.
According to the EU, over 1.8 million people are currently facing acute food insecurity, with projections rising to 2.1 million by January 2026.
The organization specifically noted that the contribution will enable the Kenya Red Cross Society to provide essential food assistance, clean water, cash support, healthcare, and protection services to the most affected communities.
The project will run for six months and aims to reach more than 150,000 vulnerable people across Kenya.
“The six-month project, running until the end of May 2026, is expected to support more than 150,000 vulnerable people affected by the converging crises. This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),” the EU stated.
The union highlighted that consecutive failed rains have left 179,000 people in emergency conditions and placed 741,000 children and 109,000 pregnant or lactating women at risk of acute malnutrition, while recent heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides, destroying homes and livelihoods.
” With food insecurity rising and humanitarian funding declining, communities are increasingly exposed and in urgent need of support. Cholera is spreading rapidly in Narok and Nairobi counties, with a 9% case fatality rate reported in Narok, while communities in the arid and semi-arid lands remain at high risk of other waterborne and zoonotic diseases,” EU added.
