Kenya Drought & Famine

Now, an estimated 2.5 million people require emergency food aid (at 100% food ration) and other non-food interventions. The situation is particularly alarming in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit and Moyale districts. Other districts which will require immediate emergency relief include: Kajiado, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Isiolo, Tana River, Turkana, Samburu, Laikipia and parts of Baringo district. The Government of Kenya has been supporting a total of 1.2 million people in 18 districts since 2004.

The latest reports from the Kenya media and partners on the ground indicate that about 30 people have died from famine related causes in various parts of the country, and of these, 10 were reported in Mandera district alone. Also reported from the field are high levels of malnutrition among children and mothers, especially in most affected districts.

Livestock in many parts of the affected districts are reportedly in poor condition. Mass deaths of livestock are being reported in Mandera, Kajiado, Garissa, Marsabit, Kitui, Makueni and Tana River.

As the food situation continues to deteriorate, many households are resorting to negative coping mechanisms such as selling their few remaining productive assets. The collapse of the livestock market in most of the major cattle keeping districts has led to a negative impact on food security. Grain prices have almost doubled in most parts of the affected districts, while livestock prices have declined significantly, thereby eroding the purchasing power of households. The water situation has also deteriorated with most water pans and dams reported dry and boreholes experiencing frequent breakdowns due to overuse.

ACT members Danchurchaid, Lutheran World Federation, Christian Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, Lutheran World Relief, National Council of Churches of Kenya, Anglican Church of Kenya, Church World Service, and partners will be targeting their response in areas with greatest needs and where they have adequate capacity.

Preliminary assessments show that food relief and water provision will form a major component in this forthcoming Appeal. The Anglican Church of Kenya has reported distributing small quantities of food in Kajiado from donations in-kind from their congregational members.

Water trucking for domestic and livestock use will be an essential integral component of the non-food interventions in the most affected areas especially in Mandera and Kajiado Districts. Construction and/or rehabilitation of water systems will also be undertaken as a mitigation measure to address the recurring water needs and hence reduce the vulnerability of the affected communities.

Initially, concentration will be focused on providing life-saving interventions that will address the immediate food and water needs in key specific areas of Mandera, Kajiado, Narok, Makueni, Kitui, Taita Taveta, Tana River and Turkana Districts. This will be done during the first 3-6 months depending on the intensity of the drought, followed by a 6-month recovery and rehabilitation period.

Members indicated that their interventions would be focused on supplementing and filling gaps of Government of Kenya, WFP and other NGO response efforts in the affected districts.

The ACT Nairobi Forum members have been monitoring the drought /famine situation and a joint ACT Appeal will be submitted to the ACT CO. before the end of next week.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).