- The authority said the nutrition situation was above long term average in 52 per cent of the counties
- Trekking distance to water source from grazing areas had worsened in 13 counties
Image: GEORGE MURAGE
At least 11 Asal counties are facing malnutrition crisis due to failed rains in the last two seasons.
National Drought Management Authority said minors and breastfeeding mothers are the most affected.
This comes two weeks after the authority said 18 of the 23 Asal counties had recovered from the three year drought that had killed hundreds of livestock.
In its monthly report, the authority said the nutrition situation was above long term average in 52 per cent of the counties.
The report identified Garissa, Isiolo, Laikipia, Lamu, Makueni, Narok, Nyeri, Samburu, Tana River, Meru and Turkana as counties with worsening conditions.
“The poor nutrition status is as a result of previous failed seasons, livelihoods are still in recovery mode and low milk production at household level due to reduced livestock numbers,” it said.
NDMA said the trekking distance to water source from grazing areas had worsened in 13 counties in the last one month.
The counties include, Nyeri, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Turkana, Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Kilifi, Kitui, Wajir, Marsabit and Mandera.
“The average livestock trekking distances from grazing areas to water points in arid counties was between four and 15.4 km with Lamu reporting the lowest and Samburu the highest,”
“In semi-arid counties, the distance was between 2.4 and 7.7 km, with Kilifi county recording the lowest and Taita Taveta the highest distance,” it said.
NDMA has recommended sustained provision of food assistance and cash transfer to food insecure populations in the affected counties.
“The government should facilitate safe migrations for pastoralists accessing dry season grazing areas and consider treatment and vaccination against emerging livestock diseases,” the authority said.
It said the number of people requiring relief assistance stood at 2.8m based on the assessment of food security conducted last month.
“Currently, 18 counties have reported normal drought phase while five reported alert phase and require close monitoring,” the authority said.
The five counties in the Alert drought phase include Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, Tana River and Taita Taveta.
On the rainfall outlook for the coming months, the authority noted that the ASAL counties were likely to be above the long-term average due to the projected heavy rains.