From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Jul 22, 2009 11:10 AM
Subject: KENYA IS FACING FAMINE AND ACUTE SHORTAGE OF WATER AS DROUGHT BITES

KENYA GRAPPLES WITH SERIOUS FAMINES AS BITING DROUGHT HAS DEVASTATIVE EFFECT AMONG ITS PEOPLE, SPARKING OFF ACUTE SHORTAGE OF FOOD, WATER AND GREEN PASTURE FOR ANIMALS.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A report spelling out the glooming future coupled with acute shortage of food, water and green pasture for both domesticated and wild animals was released yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

It further states that poor rains and increasing prices of cereals worsen food shortage in the coming months, the famine monitoring agency has warned Kenyans.

At the same time Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga is schedule to address Parliament this afternoon on the issues of food, water and energy.

The prices of grain, especially the maize, and maize flour meals and beans, which are the staple food in Kenya has gone up by over 120 per cent, making the prices of basic food out of reach for the ordinary families of rural peasant communities.

Famine Early Warning System {FewsNet} says in its latest report just released this week that the most vulnerable groups are the internally displaced people {IDP} and pastoralists.

IDP comprises of thousands of families which were kicked out of their homes following the post-elections violence that gripped the country early last year, and are still camping at the various scattered camps .The disturbances that followed the hotly disputed presidential elections in December, 2007 claimed close to 1500 people who were hacked to death by their neighbors for political reasons.

The prices of maize, the country’s staple food, and beans have shot up by 170 per cent, higher than normal in most parts of the country, says the report..

It adds, The constrained supply of maize has sustained high prices, severely affecting the purchasing capacities of vulnerable households.

The report notes that 80 per cent of the long rain crops, which contributes about 30per cent of food output in lowlands has failed..

FewsNet, a warning system funded by United Nations Agency for International Development, uses scientific methods to predict famines and advises policy makers.

The report also says conflict and limited implementation of planned intervention by the government has worsened food insecurity. The agency has predicted that between July-September there would be worsening food insecurity situation in the south-eastern and coastal area lowlands as well as in many pastoral lowlands and many pastoral areas, where rains have largely failed..

The lasts FewsNet report said the average maize production in the Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza highlands is unlikely to cause a significant reversal in high prices of food insecurity for the affected households.

Pointing out a gloomy picture of the country’s food security, FewsNet said the Ministry of Agriculture had already revised expected maize production downwards to 2.1 million tons, which is over 20 per cent lower than the expected quantity.

The food security problem has been accelerated by an acute shortage of water in the country, FewsNet, said in its report.

“Security of water has caused the price of a 20-litre can to rise from Kshs 20 to Kshs 80,and hygiene is compromised due to inability to meet either food or water purchases“, the report says.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by this writer has revealed that crops failure is widespread and is almost 70 per cent to 80 per cent, and hygiene, and maize producing areas like the North and South Rift districts of Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot and Nandi are the worst hit.

In the South Rift region covering Molo, Bomet, Nakuru, Kipkellion, Kericho. Konoin,Sotik as well as Trans-Mara, there is total crop failure of maize crops. The same could be said of Kisii, Southern Nyanza and in the Kuria districts.

The pastoralist communities appear to have suffered the brunt of the prolonged drought and have lost nearly 70 per cent of their livestock due to loss of green pasture. So many rivers have dried up leaving behind deep gullies.

Hinterland lakes like the Lake Kamnarock, which for many years was reputed as having the largest number of crocodiles and only second to Lake Chad has dried up. All the crocodiles and hippopotamus have either died or fled to other lakes. Other lakes facing extinction include Lakes Naivasha, Elmentaita and Nakuru due to the canalization of most important water towers upstream. The situation is no better in other maize producing region like Bungoma, Mt Elgon, Kakamega and Busia.

Ends