Cholera Deaths in Kenya: Help Needed Now
Over the past few months, Kenya has been hit by a growing cholera outbreak that has already claimed lives and left hundreds fighting to survive. The disease has spread rapidly across several counties, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori, Naork and Kwale, where health teams are struggling to contain the spread and care for those affected.
According to recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kenyan Ministry of Health, there have been over 250 suspected cases and at least 13 confirmed deaths across the country. In Nairobi alone, 49 suspected cases, 12 confirmed infections, and one death have been recorded so far — with new cases emerging each week.
For many of us, cholera feels like a disease from another time. But in Kenya, it remains a recurring and deadly threat, especially for families living in crowded urban areas, informal settlements, or flood-affected regions where safe water and sanitation are hard to come by.
Why this outbreak is spreading
Heavy rains and flash floods in parts of Kenya have worsened the crisis. When floodwaters mix with sewage or contaminated waste, they pollute wells, rivers, and taps that people rely on for drinking water. In these conditions, cholera spreads fast. It can kill within hours if left untreated.
Doctors and community health workers have been racing to respond, but resources are stretched. Health centres are running low on basic supplies like oral rehydration salts, IV fluids, and antibiotics. In some places, people have to walk long distances just to reach treatment facilities.
A preventable tragedy
Cholera should never take lives in 2025. The heartbreaking truth is that this outbreak is entirely preventable. The bacteria spread through contaminated food and water, and with access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education, these deaths could be stopped.
The World Health Organization has warned that the fatality rate in this outbreak is around 5.2 % — far higher than the global target of under 1 %. That tells us that many people are not getting help in time. Behind every statistic is a family grieving a child, a mother, or a friend who should still be alive.
What can be done
Kenya’s Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, UNICEF, and local partners, is mobilising teams to treat patients, disinfect water sources, and raise community awareness. But there are gaps that need filling — and that’s where your compassion can make all the difference.
With your help, we can:
Provide clean drinking water and emergency water purification kits to families in affected areas
Supply rehydration salts, medical supplies, and hygiene packs to local health teams
Support education campaigns that teach families how to prevent infection and protect their children
Strengthen long-term water and sanitation systems so that this doesn’t happen again next year
A call to act now
WayMaker is monitoring the situation closely through our network of trusted partners in Kenya. The need is urgent, and lives depend on how quickly help arrives. Every £10 given can provide life-saving treatment, clean water, and hope to someone facing this deadly disease.
If you feel moved to respond, please consider donating today.
Your generosity can make a lasting difference. Together, we can help bring clean water, restore dignity, and offer hope in the midst of crisis.
Let’s make a way where there seems to be no way.
