Early Warning Bulletins
National monthly drought update - July 2022
The drought situation continued to worsen in twenty (20) of the 23 ASAL counties. The number of counties in the Alarm stage of drought has increased from five (5) in May to eight (8) in June 2022. The counties in Alarm drought phase are Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Laikipia, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Samburu and Isiolo while twelve (12) counties including Garissa, Kajiado, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Nyeri, Embu, Turkana, Kwale and Kilifi are in Alert drought phase.
This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 short rains coupled with previous two failed consecutive seasons and early cessation of the 2022 long rains season.
Three counties namely Narok, West Pokot (except Sigor sub-county) and Baringo (except Tiaty sub-county) are in Normal drought phase.
National monthly drought update - June 2022
The drought situation continued to worsen in nineteen (19) of the 23 ASAL counties. This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 short rains coupled with previous two failed consecutive seasons and early cessation of the 2022 long rains season. The number of people in need of assistance has increased from 3.5 million in May to 4.1 million in June 2022.
2021 Short rains assessment report
The Government, together with its Development Partners led by the World Food Programme conducted a food and nutrition security assessment in January 2022. This food security assessment was undertaken to determine the impact of the October-December 2021 Short rains season on overall food production and access, especially in Kenya’s ASAL areas which are considered highly vulnerable to weather and climatic variabilities.
The assessment has determined that about 3.1 million people require immediate food assistance. This is an increase from 2.8 million in December 2021 when the mid-season assessment was undertaken.
Access the report on the link below:
2021 SRA Report
NDMA distributes livestock feed supplements to save pastoralists’ livelihoods
Ms. Batula Mohamed, a resident of Karu Location in Habaswein, Wajir County, was on the verge of despair as she watched the body condition of her cattle deteriorate. Drought had depleted all available pasture, wreaking havoc in her village. The mother of five had already lost four cows in a span of two months and the remaining three were too feeble to stand on their own. The Subcounty had not received any rainfall in five months thus the depletion of pasture. Her three school-going children had missed most of previous term’s work as the situation required them to venture farther out with the livestock in search of pasture.
NDMA partners with academia for drought risk management research
The NDMA has partnered with local universities for research into areas relating to drought risk management and climate change adaptation. The Authority gave research grants to six PhD students drawn from the University of Nairobi, University of Eldoret and Kenyatta University.
In his opening remarks during a seminar for the presentation of research findings, NDMA Board Chairman Mr Raphael Nzomo noted that the event came at a critical time when the country is looking for practical solutions to challenges posed by droughts.
Staff Mail