Drought is a complex phenomenon with a long-lasting global impact on human society and natural ecosystems suggesting the need for greater attention to its underlaying causes. Here, we evaluated drought conditions in ESK (Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya) countries of East Africa during 1964–2015. We evaluate the severe droughts that occurred during 1973–1974, 1984–1985 and 2010–2011 in ESK, based on the drought severity levels. Results show that the drought characteristic parameters of drought duration and intensity increase over time, but drought frequency does not. Higher spatial drought trends were observed in large areas of the ESK countries with mean trend values of 0.0064, 0.0028, 0.00064 and -0.00095 yr–1 for SPEI-1, SPEI-3, SPEI-6 and SPEI-12, respectively. The total land area of the ESK under drought was 38–43, 46–80 and 25–46 per cent during 1973–1974, 1984–1985 and 2010–2011, respectively. Dire drought impacts have affected northeastern and southern Ethiopia, eastern Somalia and northeastern Kenya during the drought years. The spatial drought pattern analysis suggests an increase in drought in vulnerable areas which calls for better drought management strategies to reduce the risks on the natural and human systems.