Kenya: Acute Food Insecurity Situation in August 2014 and Projection for September 2014 - February 2015
RELEASE DATE
01.08.2014
VALIDITY PERIOD
01.08.2014 > 28.02.2015

Key
results


Recommendations
& next steps


Acute
Malnutrition


According to the 2014 long rains assessment in Kenya, an estimated 1.5 million people are acutely food insecure and will require immediate food assistance over the next six months (September 2014 – February 2015). This number has increased from 1.3 million who required food assistance in February 2014, representing a 15 percent increase (Figure 1.1). The cumulative effects of the poor 2013 short rains coupled with the below-average 2014 long rains in the pastoral, agro pastoral and marginal agricultural areas and increasing food prices and conflicts, have resulted in more population becoming food insecure. The poor rains resulted to below-average crop production and poor recovery of rangeland conditions. In pastoral and agro pastoral areas, forage conditions were fair to poor, with 70 - 80 percent of ground water sources reported to be exhausted.

The deteriorated forage conditions have resulted to poor or in some cases emaciated livestock body conditions. Trekking distances to water sources have increased. In the southeastern marginal agricultural areas, most of the maize crop did not reach maturity. Household stocks have been depleted resulting in high market dependence for food access, at a time when income earning opportunities have significantly declined. With the peak of the lean season yet to set in, and the next rains expected in mid October, food security situation is set to continue worsening, prompting the need for urgent mitigation and response actions to avert the situation.

The main driving factors of food insecurity are:

  • poor livestock conditions due to deteriorated forage conditions
  • depletion of household stocks due to high market dependance and decline in employment opportunities
  • below average rainfall resulting in below-average crop production
  • increasing food prices
  • conflict


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