Kenya is staring at a food insecurity crisis in the coming months following an anticipated depressed and poorly distributed rainfall throughout December, that signals a tougher festive season.The Kenya Meteorological department, in this month’s forecast, says most parts of the country will receive near-average to below-average rainfall with Northern Kenya expected to experience highly depressed rainfall.
The weatherman says the rains will stop sometime between the first and fourth week, which will make the dry situation even worse.
The forecast points to a difficult period for food production coming against the backdrop of unusually dry conditions last month, which is usually the peak of the OND short rains.
“Most weather stations reported rainfall deficits with areas such as Marsabit, Lodwar, Lamu and Mandera receiving no rainfall at all,” the forecast read in part.
The depressed rains and the warmer-than-usual temperatures across the country, the weatherman warns, will significantly reduce soil moisture, slow crop growth and weaken livestock productivity, threatening livelihoods for millions of Kenyans in Arid and Semi-Arid region.
Last week, a section of MPs from North Eastern counties asked the government to declare the ongoing drought a national disaster, warning of a worsening situation in the Horn of Africa.
“The drought in Banisa (Mandera) is severe that majority of the residents have moved to interior parts of neighbouring Ethiopia in search of water and pasture for the livestock,” Banisa MP Ahmed Hassan said.
Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera and Garissa will experience depressed rainfall, limiting pasture degeneration and water availability, thereby exposing local communities to resource-based conflicts.
However, upper parts of Isiolo have in the last two days experienced heavy rainfall that necessitated flooding within Isiolo town, with some of the offices such as Huduma Centre and County Assembly office gate marooned.
The depressed rains in Northern Kenya will result in reduced milk production and consequent surge in malnutrition levels, increased livestock deaths thereby affecting household nutrition status and incomes.
“Pastoralist communities are advised to store fodder and maintain watering points and adopt water saving measures as the prolonged drought persists,” KMD advised.
The forecast shows that the central, eastern, and coastal areas that depend on short rains for growing beans, maize, and veggies are going to get hit hard.Farmers in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, and Taita Taveta counties in the Southeast are probably going to have bad harvests, which will make their already low food supplies even worse because November was dry.
The weather people are also telling people to collect water in places that get some rain now and then, especially in the coastal and southeastern counties.Counties are also asked to get their warning systems up and running, get relief supplies ready, and back farming methods that are good for the climate.
The government and aid groups should also give more food and help people make a living to protect vulnerable families across the country.
