More than half a million people in nine non-Asal counties are in dire need of food aid amid the worsening drought across the country.
As of last month, the Ministry of Regional Development and ASALs had said 4.4 million people were in dire need of food aid in some 22 counties that are considered arid and semi-arid.
The ministry now says over 500,000 people in nine more counties have joined the bracket of those in need of humanitarian assistance.
Experts are warning the situation could worsen further in the next three months as drought persists.
According to the 2022 short rains season assessment by the Ministry of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development, over 500,000 more food-insecure people have been identified in nine additional counties.
The nine non-ASAL counties assessed as at February 2023 include Machakos, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kirinyaga and Murang'a.
The food and nutrition security assessment report indicated that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from the 3.5 million people identified in July 2022 to 4.4 million this month.
The assessment showed that the food security situation in the country has deteriorated, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties. This is following a fifth consecutive poor rainfall season.
“An estimated six million people in 32 counties are affected by the prolonged drought and are currently categorised under various food insecurity levels or acute malnutrition,” the findings show.
Malnutrition status of children and women is worsening in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Garissa, Baringo and Samburu counties.
The ministry indicated that over 970,000 children below five years and 142,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers require urgent lifesaving treatment for malnutrition. This is an increase compared to 884,000 cases reported in July 2022.
The most affected counties with critical malnutrition levels are Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Garissa, Baringo and Samburu with malnutrition levels above emergency of 15 per cent.
Other affected counties are Wajir, West Pokot, Laikipia, Kajiado, Kilifi and Kwale counties.
“The major causes are food insecurity and high disease burden. The nutrition situation is expected to worsen further in the next three months as the prevailing drought persists. Continued multi-sector response is required in the next six months to counter/halt the looming downturn,” the assessment.
It further indicated that the ongoing response interventions such as relief food distribution, emergency cash transfers, mass screening, and scale-up of integrated health and nutrition outreaches have lessened the effects of drought significantly.
The assessment warned that the situation could worsen further in the next three months as drought persists, thus continued multi-sector response to mitigate deterioration of the prevailing situation remains a priority.
The assessment attributed worsening of drought to below-average crop production due to inadequate rainfall, high prices of farm inputs resulting in below average planted acreage, Fall Armyworm infestation and damage of crops by wildlife. This is also due to low livestock productivity, diseases and mortality.
“Approximately 2.6 million livestock deaths were reported. This loss translates to about Sh226.4 billion,” the assessment indicated.
The assessment recommended scaling up of food and nutrition support and cash transfers, health and nutrition interventions, sustained support for water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
In addition to livestock feeding, off-take and further extension of veterinary services, school feeding programmes, support peace and security initiatives and drought recovery support to the agriculture sector.
It further recommended monitoring of the March-April-May weather outlook and food and nutrition security in the country.
Ongoing interventions
Since September 2021, the National government has spent more than Sh32 billion to cushion the lives and livelihoods of citizens affected by drought.
The focus has been on relief food distribution; emergency relief cash transfers; school feeding programme; water-related interventions; and livestock offtake.
This includes Sh4.9 billion which the current administration has mobilised since September last year and allocated towards immediate life-saving interventions.
Sh1.44 billion has been disbursed as cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Programme.
Development partners have so far plugged in about Sh48 billion for various drought response interventions where they are needed most.
Similarly, the private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response has raised Sh650 million, some of which has gone towards relief food distribution while the rest is supporting water interventions such as boreholes and dams in affected counties.
The assessment has identified drought response priority areas for closer surveillance and additional support in various sectors from March to May 2023 at an estimated cost of Sh 15.35 billion.
(Edited by by Graham)