At least 3.5 million Kenyans are in desperate need of food, according to a report released by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
The report says that March and May rains have made the situation worse mostly in the Northern parts of the country and semi-arid areas that receive 26 to 50 per cent lower than the expected rainfall.
In September the government declared the drought a national disaster.
The Eastern region will experience more dry conditions than usual, the Western region will experience normal conditions and the Central region will have more rainfall in the coming months.
Therefore, people readily affected by hunger will continue feeling the effect and might experience more diverse conditions.
Thus, the government should be watchful and do more to solve the hunger crisis.
During a meeting by IGAD executive secretary Workneh Gebeyehu, it was noted that Covid-19 also had an impact and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia have affected the East African food supply chain systems.
The World Food Programme has come up with an initiative to help the affected regions by setting aside Sh317 billion for displacement to help the affected regions.
Population growth rates have been high, at 2.5 to 3.5 per cent, and are still at least 2 per cent everywhere.
The momentum for future increases in the population remains strong because of the age structure and youthful population.
This leads to a high population hence more hunger in the community.
The fertility and mortality rates are high and the low prevalence of contraception use almost everywhere means that there is little chance of a decline in fertility in the immediate future.
Family sizes are large, especially in rural areas, and the dependency burden is high and exacerbated by the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, which strikes the working-age population hardest.
The secondary economic and social impacts of the pandemic have driven millions worldwide deeper into poverty, and these impacts persist for children and their communities throughout Africa.
A decline in income opportunities, lost livelihoods, diminished purchasing power and limited access to basic food and services have continued to date.
When instability persists because of conflict and political factors, people may be forced to flee from their homes for safety or unable to do farming.
When this happens, less food gets harvested and prices go up.
Families’ livelihood prospects dwindle as markets close.
Violent conflict makes situations worse because humanitarian groups cannot access affected communities to deliver emergency relief.
Drought has become more frequent and intense in recent years in West, East and Southern Africa.
This affects food-production systems in fragile contexts in similar ways that conflict does.
Less food and water also lead to the death of livestock in affected areas.
This devastates families whose herds are their main source of income and nutrition.
Each year, many rural communities prepare to face the hunger season or the period between harvests when food supplies run out.
Climate change has exacerbated hunger seasons, prolonged droughts and other severe shocks have made hunger seasons more unpredictable.
The United Nations estimates that about 80 per cent of the world’s climate refugees people displaced by floods and other climate-related issues are women.
In many communities where traditional gender roles pervade, the responsibilities for gathering water, food, fuel and taking care of children, are left to women.
All of these activities will be made more difficult as the planet continues to warm.
It's now time that the government takes action in preventing drought which will help reduce the hunger in the affected regions.
Bramwell - Wellcare Medical Centre and Karani Student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
