Most counties in the Arid and Semi-arid region of the country will receive depressed rainfall in the month of December.
The National Drought Management Authority in their December advisory has listed Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Meru, Kitui, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kajiado as counties that will receive poor rainfall.
However, parts of Mandera and Wajir and northeastern parts of Marsabit as well as parts of west Pokot and western parts of Baringo counties are forecasted to receive near-average to below rainfall during the month of December
According to the authority, there was an alarming deterioration in vegetation conditions across the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties in November as compared to the previous month of October.
“The alarming deterioration associated with the ongoing poor performance of October-November-December (OND) short rains,” the forecast says.
“Despite the reported rains in pocket areas of the ASAL counties, positive impacts on vegetation rejuvenation is yet to be registered,” it adds.
Isiolo and Kilifi are the worst affected with extreme vegetation deficit, while the five counties of West Pokot, Embu, Nyeri, Lamu and Narok recorded Normal vegetation greenness.
According to NDMA, the drought situation continues to deteriorate in 21 of the 23 ASAL counties.
This is attributed to the four failed consecutive rain seasons, late-onset and poor distribution of the 2022 short showers of rain season.
Some 4.35 million people are in need of food assistance.
About 14 counties namely Laikipia, Marsabit, Garissa, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kwale, Samburu, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Wajir, Kitui, Kajiado and Mandera are classified under Alarm drought phase.
Seven counties including Embu, Narok, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Meru, Nyeri and Lamu are in the Alert drought phase.
The remaining two counties of Baringo and West Pokot are in the Normal drought phase.
