More than two million people in arid and semi-arid lands are at risk of acute hunger as the drought situation worsens across the country.

The Kenya Meteorological Department says the situation is getting dire as more counties join the alarm phase of the drought cycle.

The advisory from Met paints a grim picture for millions of people in the country’s dry regions, where October to December rains failed, making an already difficult situation even worse.

The number of people expected to face starvation and hunger is projected to rise from 1.8 million to 2.14 million by the end of December.

The drought is already hitting pastoralist communities hard. In Shompole, Kajiado County, the impact is being felt as farmers are forced to buy hay at exorbitant prices to keep their animals alive, while families struggle to put food on their tables.

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Sources of water are drying up, and women now have to walk long distances to fetch the little water available.

Kajiado County is one of nine counties classified as being in the alert phase of the drought cycle. Others include Wajir, Garissa, Kilifi, Kitui, Marsabit, Kwale, Isiolo, and Tana River. According to the meteorological department, these counties are facing depleted water, pasture, and food supplies.

Thirteen counties—Samburu, Turkana, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nyeri, Laikipia, Narok, Baringo, Makueni, Meru, and Lamu—have entered the normal drought phase, which means that while these counties are currently stable, they are beginning to show signs of stress.

Mandera County, however, is already in the alarm stage, with residents in dire need of food relief and water provision.

The National Drought Management Authority is closely monitoring the situation in these counties and others at risk, with the government urged to put in place mitigating measures to save the lives of residents and their animals.