In 2024, Kenya’s hunger and malnutrition crisis intensified, with around 1 million people experiencing severe food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+) by August. Projections indicate this number could rise to over 1.8 million by early 2025 due to anticipated La Niña conditions. Over 760,000 children in 23 arid and semi-arid counties were acutely malnourished.

Key contributing factors included recurring droughts and floods, high food and fuel prices, poor infant feeding practices, disease outbreaks, pest infestations, and reduced donor funding. Floods damaged infrastructure and disrupted health services, worsening an already fragile nutrition landscape. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) needs were also critical, especially in arid regions where over half of communities relied on unsafe water. These conditions increased the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and drove higher rates of malnutrition in women and children. Gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation, was another area of concern.

Action Against Hunger operated across the high-risk counties of Mandera, Isiolo, Baringo, Tana River, and West Pokot, focusing on Health and Nutrition, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, gender, advocacy, and social protection. Flexible funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency allowed for rapid scale-up in crisis areas, including flood-affected informal settlements in Nairobi and Nakuru. Despite insecurity in Baringo, Isiolo, and Mandera, coordination with local authorities helped improve access.

In 2024, Action Against Hunger directly reached over 1.5 million people. Over 900,000 received Health and Nutrition services, 70,000 accessed mental health support, and over 400,000 gained clean water and sanitation. Emergency cash aid supported 81,000 people, while over 20,000 women received gender-based violence protection. We also conducted agroecological training, contributing to improved food security. These interventions helped reduce Global Acute Malnutrition rates in all target counties: Mandera (21.2 per cent to 20.6 per cent); Isiolo (15.4 per cent to 13.7 per cent); Baringo (23.2 per cent to 21.0 per cent); and West Pokot (17.8 per cent to 12.9 per cent).