YASMIN MOHAMEDNOOR MAALIM2026-06-092025-06https://repository.mua.ac.ke/handle/123456789/2316Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), such as Isiolo County, are increasingly vulnerable to recurrent droughts that have serious implications on agricultural production, water resources decline, and food insecurity intensifies. This study assesses the effects of drought on food security in Isiolo County using the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. The objectives were to: examine the impact of drought severity and duration on food supply, evaluate the impact of drought frequency on food access at the household level, examine the relationship between food and water availability and establish the effect of soil moisture depletion on food supply stability. The study was founded on the Entitlement and Sustainable Livelihoods Framework that highlights the multidimensional of the impacts of drought on food security. A mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative data was used in a descriptive research design. Stratified random sampling was used to select 300 respondents from poor rural households, pastoralists, and small-scale farmers. Data was collected using structured household surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Empirical observations showed a strong increase in the frequency and severity of drought over the past decade. Droughts that previously occurred every two or three years now occur yearly in some areas, resulting in increased water shortages, livestock mortality, and decreased agricultural production. Approximately 60% of the households had lost livestock heavily, while over 55% had suffered from food insecurity, of which 30% were unable to meet basic nutritional needs. Coping strategies such as migration and reliance on external relief were common but not sufficient for long-term resilience. The study emphasizes the need for longitudinal research to monitor the socioeconomic and environmental effects of drought over time, which can inform evidence-based policy development. Some of the key policy recommendations include improving water resource management, promoting sustainable agriculture, and developing comprehensive drought resilience policies. Moreover, the study proposes the implementation of training for farmers and pastoralists on drought-resistant farming techniques and the introduction of climate change and drought resilience courses in school syllabuses. This would equip the communities to face any future drought. The study requires a multi-stakeholder, collaborative approach uniting local communities, government ministries, NGOs, and universities to create sustainable, context specific interventions for long-term food security and resilience in Isiolo County.Thesis