Taking a double blow from drought

What some ethnic groups in Kenya refer to as "the cassava or skin drought" is a drought that occurred between 1943 and 1945. The drought was so severe that people fed on the then only drought resistant crop, cassava. Others tried eating dry skins of animals which were then their forms of clothing and beddings.

Since the 1997/98 El-Nino rains, the rain patterns have been erratic countrywide, causing the current drought. Indeed famine has reached a crisis proportion being experienced in thirty out of fifty-four districts. Nineteen of them are worst hit. It is frightening to evaluate the situation in relation to human value. According to World Food Programme there are already over three million people who are at high risk of starvation. Although the government has been issuing between 60,000 to 70,000 bags of maize per month to the nineteen most affected districts, it is hardly enough to keep them alive for a long time.

So far, the long rains expected from April to July, 2000 failed in most parts of the country. The short rains expected from September to November do not appear promising either. Weather experts indicate that near normal rainfall is expected only in Western, South-Western parts of the country and some Rift Valley districts. To grasp the full implication of the drought, one needs to realise that although Kenya is considered an agricultural country, it is only a small portion of about one eighth that has high potential or is marginally agricultural. The area covers Central Province, parts of Rift Valley and Western Provinces. The rest of Kenya is arid or semi-arid. The people in those areas are largely pastoralists.

In a nutshell, Kenya has suffered a double blow. The crops have failed in the agricultural areas and livestock have perished in the arid and semi-arid areas. The demand for food by far exceeds the supply. This has in turn pushed the prices of food so high that most people are unable to afford a single balanced meal per day.

Consumables like sugar and maize flour which is a staple food in Kenya have almost doubled (from Shs.55 to Shs.90 and Shs.30 to more than Shs.60 per kilogramme respectively). Petrol price which normally affects price level of all other commodities went up two weeks ago from approximately Shs.48 per litre to over Shs. 53. The rate of exchange is Shs.78.85 to one dollar . The per capita income is US$330.

As livestock, the mainstay of pastoral communities, continue to die the pastoralists are forced to either feed on the remaining few livestock or sell them at through away prices. The would be buyers are few due to economic hardships being felt throughout the country even by traders. The prices of livestock has slumped from Shs.20,000 per cow to Shs.800 while a goat is fetching only Shs.400 from the previous price of Kshs.1,500/-. The transport network to the pastoral districts is particularly poor, which puts the burden of transporting the livestock to the buyers on the pastoralists. This means trekking through long, harsh areas. Both the herdsmen and their livestock have been known to perish through those endeavours.

Conflicts of interests have been growing among the pastoral communities and agricultural communities. "I will graze my cattle anywhere I see grass or green plants," says Ole Sekento when asked why his cattle are roaming the City centre. Cases have been reported in the press whereby farmers have killed livestock that had invaded and destroyed their crops. Pastoralists have been raiding each other to steal livestock. This causes insecurity and destruction of human lives and livestock. Raids have led to displacement of many families.

On the social front, men from both pastoral and agricultural communities have left their homes in search of jobs in urban areas. Urban areas in Kenya are over stretched and unable to cope with rising populations. They are marked by poor sanitation facilities, broken down road networks, overcrowding that is accompanied by poverty and broken down morals. Women and children who are left behind in rural areas fend for themselves in searching for food, water and security. They use whatever means possible. "I married off one of my daughters so that I could get five cows dowry to replace my herd of 80 wiped off by famine," says Chebokisang Lomekusia of Pokot District. The 50 year old widow lost some of her livestock to raiders and others to famine. Such stories are becoming common in many areas.

Signs of the long term effects of the drought are already starting to manifest themselves again in a worrying manner. Schools, even in high economic potential areas such as Central and parts of Eastern Provinces will be forced to close earlier as it is becoming impossible to continue running the institutions. There is a worse scenario in arid and semi-arid districts. A recent Ministry of Education survey shows that 60% of school age going children in Asal districts of Moyale, Samburu, Marsabit and Wajir are not going to school. The student population needing school feeding programme is over one million and continuing to rise.

The drought could not have hit at a worse time. It has hit at a time when Kenya is going through debt crisis, unable to attract donor funding, is retrenching its work force to the very minimum, is generally unable to generate wealth in formal and informal sector as a result of electric power and water rationing that has been going on since June, 2000.

Kenya is indeed a country that is struggling on many fronts.

Reported by Martha Mbugguss, communications director with ACT member NCCK in Kenya.
Photo credit: ACT International/NCCK