Features|Drought‘How do I survive?’ Drought plagues Kenya’s Turkana amid surplus elsewhereAs a quarter of Kenya’s population faces severe food shortages, up to 40% of the food produced is lost or wasted each year.

Turkana, Kenya – Residents of Kainama in Turkana County face significant challenges in accessing water. Veronica Akalapatan and her neighbors travel several kilometers daily to reach a well that serves as the sole water source for multiple villages.

This dug-out well, surrounded by dry terrain, supports hundreds of people and their livestock. Water collection often involves long waits for small quantities of unclean water.

Despite the current rainy season, experts predict minimal relief for Turkana and other arid regions. The ongoing drought affects 23 of Kenya's 47 counties, impacting approximately 3.4 million people, with 800,000 children showing signs of malnutrition and significant livestock losses.

In Turkana alone, 350,000 households are at risk of starvation. The recent drought, one of the worst in 40 years, compounds these issues.

While communities face severe water and food shortages, Lake Turkana's water levels have risen, displacing shoreline communities. Flash floods occur in normally dry areas, yet the land remains largely barren.

A September report by the World Resources Institute indicates that up to 40% of food produced in Kenya is lost or wasted annually, despite severe food insecurity affecting a quarter of the population. Food loss occurs during farming, handling, and transportation, while food waste is prevalent in households and the retail sector.

Turkana possesses untapped natural resources, including aquifers discovered in 2013. The Napuu and Lotikipi aquifers together contain an estimated 250 trillion liters of water. However, high salinity and purification costs have delayed their utilization.

The government, along with partners, is working to identify safe and reliable water sources for community use. Until then, relief efforts continue to provide essential supplies to affected populations.

Northern Kenya's nomadic communities have traditionally relied on livestock, but climate change necessitates adaptation. Proposed measures include irrigation, drought-resistant crops, and large dams.

Efforts to enhance resilience have led to infrastructure improvements since the adoption of a devolved government system in 2013. Despite these gains, the region continues to grapple with familiar challenges, and daily survival remains precarious.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.