'We are fasting without food and water’-Boni residents say

Residents of Basuba village in Boni forest, Lamu County are facing severe hardship as prolonged drought has left the community without sufficient water and food during the holy month of Ramadhan.

As a result of the persistent dry spell, water sources have dried up and food supplies have dwindled, leaving residents calling for immediate relief assistance from the national government, county administration, and well-wishers. With fasting underway, residents say the situation has become unbearable.

Area MCA Barissa Deko called for urgent support, saying the situation is dire and residents are on the verge of starvation. “We are fasting without food. In this month of Ramadhan, we appeal to well-wishers to come to our aid,” he said.

Residents say they lack both water and food to prepare meals for iftar and suhoor, making it increasingly difficult to observe the fast.

“We have no water or even food to cook during iftar or suhoor. How are we going to manage in this critical situation? This is a time when water is urgently needed for everything related to Ramadhan, and it isn’t there. Something needs to be done urgently,” lamented Maryam Abatika.

Her remarks highlight the growing distress among households, where fasting has become increasingly challenging due to food shortages. Residents say they require not only emergency relief food and water, but also long-term solutions such as improved water systems and sustainable plans to help them cope with future droughts.

For many residents of the Boni Forest, which straddles the Kenya–Somalia border, and who are predominantly hunter-gatherers, the continued dry conditions have made life even more difficult, leaving families struggling to access basic necessities.

This is not the first time Basuba residents have faced such hardship. During previous drought cycles, families living near the Boni Forest were forced to temporarily relocate to neighboring villages such as Kiangwe in search of water.

In 2021, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) intervened in Basuba and surrounding areas by constructing water pans to ease shortages. However, recurring drought patterns have continued to strain the community, exposing the limitations of short-term solutions in the face of climate extremes.

For now, families are sharing and conserving the small amount of water available, praying for rain and hoping the government will respond before the situation worsens.

According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), Lamu County is among the 13 counties in Kenya classified under the “Alert” phase as of January 2026, with drought conditions continuing to deteriorate due to persistent hot and dry weather.