The Citizens' Charter for Action on Drought in Kenya

The Citizens’ Charter for action on drought in Kenya

A call to action by drought-affected communities and civil society

The Citizens’ Charter for action on drought in Kenya

A call to action by drought-affected communities and civil society Published by ActionAid International Kenya

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL All African Conference of Churches Building, Waiyaki Way P.O Box 42814-00100 Nairobi Telephone +254 (020) 4440440/4/9 Email: [email protected] Website: www.actionaid.org/kenya

ISBN : 978-9945-134-07-9 ©ActionAid International Kenya, 2013 Photocopies of all or part of this publication may be made provided that the source is acknowledged. ActionAid International Kenya would appreciate receiving details of the use of any of this material in training, research or programme design, implementation or evaluation. Table of Contents

1. Background to the Citizens’ Charter p7

2. Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views p8

3. Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play p13

4. People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya p17

5. The Citizens’ Charter p28

Signatories p32

Glossary p43

Acronyms p34 1. Background to the Citizens’ Charter

6 7 1. Background to the Citizens’ Charter

Kenya is prone to several types of natural and Outcomes of the consultations were shared human-induced disasters. Its commonest with a cross-section of citizens brought natural disasters are drought and floods, while together from various parts of Kenya, and the most common human-induced disasters prominent representatives of various depart- include fires, conflict, terrorism and disease. ments of the Kenyan government and civil The frequency and intensity of such disasters society. A workshop was held in Nairobi in have increased tremendously in recent years. July 2013 to discuss, analyse and validate the outcomes of the consultations, and a ‘Citizens’ Drought is the most significant hazard in Charter’, setting out a collective proposition by Kenya – vulnerability to which has badly all participating agencies, was compiled. hindered poverty reduction, the realization of Vision 2030, and reaching the Millennium This document brings together key insights Development Goals (MDGs). The severity, from the consultations with drought-affected magnitude and intensity of droughts appear people, snippets from the policy analysis and to have increased over time. In recent years, the ‘Citizen’s Charter’ itself – put together by Kenya has faced severe droughts in the arid the citizens and organisations participating in a and semi-arid lands (ASALs) where up to 3.75 two-day workshop held in Nairobi on July 9-10, million 1people are extremely food insecure. 2013.

The consequences of prolonged drought have This document has five key parts: had both macro- and micro-level impacts, including (among other things) severe water ,, The background to the Citizens’ Charter shortages in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas ,, Our methodology of northern and south-eastern Kenya; inade- ,, A review of Kenya’s drought mitigation quate pasture, reducing the health of livestock policies and therefore the market prospects and ,, People’s voices: the experience of drought incomes for pastoralist and agro-pastoralists; in Kenya The Citizens’ Charter crop failures; malnutrition among children and women, and migration and disease outbreaks. Reduced crop production, including cereals, has directly impacted the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to which agriculture contributes about 24%. Current nutrition assessments indicate that up to half a million children below the age of five, and pregnant/ lactating mothers, are acutely malnourished.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been targeting around 2.8 million people for general food distribution and the government announced an allocation of KSh9 billion in July 2011 towards the drought response. Despite massive efforts by humanitarian agencies to respond to the crises in Kenya and the Horn of Africa, the situation continues to deteriorate. Members of vulnerable populations are dying, while livestock and livelihoods are also being lost.

ActionAid in Kenya reached out to drought-affected people in various parts of the country to hear their experiences of coping with the crisis.

1 Kenya food security steering group; outlook report 2011

6 7 Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views

2. Methodology

8 9 Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views

2. Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views

Consultations were carried out with drought-af- Diversity was sought primarily in terms of: fected people across 10 locations in Kenya, identified using a selective sampling approach ,, profile of communities to ensure an optimal degree of diversity in what ,, representation of diverse regions was a relatively small but manageable sample ,, livelihood patterns size. ,, nature of crisis ,, degrees of accessibility ,, area-specific issues, e.g. incidence of conflicts, deforestation etc.

8 9 Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views

Accordingly, locations representing different combinations of sampling factors were identified in three different counties in Kenya: West Pokot, Embu and Isiolo. Specific sites within the three counties and their standing on different sampling criteria are summarised below:

Primary livelihoods

Location (County) isolated) Difficult access High deforestation Hotspots of conflict Especially vulnerable communities (e.g. IDPs, Pastoralist Agriculturalists

Kamayech (West Pokot) ✓ ✓

Kopulio (West Pokot) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Chesakam (West Pokot) ✓ ✓

Poole (West Pokot) ✓ ✓ ✓

Kruru (West Pokot) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Nakuyen (West Pokot) ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kakaawa (Embu)

Kalisa (Embu) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Sericho (Isiolo) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Modagashe (Isiolo) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

10 11 Methodology: seeking diverse voices and views

A number of participatory methods were A team of facilitators, trained in participatory used in the consultations to understand how consultations, conducted consultations at the drought manifests itself and has an impact pre-selected sites. In addition, a comprehen- on people’s lives. These included: sive reading of relevant secondary information, including national plans, budgets and ,, Historical transect, to understand policies, was carried out at the beginning changes in manifestations and severity of the process. Snippets from the readings of droughts over time. were shared with drought-affected people in various regions for their feedback. ,, Wellbeing analysis, for categorising households in terms of locally defined A stakeholders’ workshop, including repre- standards of wellbeing, as well as for sentatives of various government depart- identifying the most disadvantaged ments, donors, local and international households within the communities non-governmental organisations (NGOs), visited during the consultations, so national-level alliances and networks, and that droughts impact could be studied representatives from communities in West against varying backdrops. Pokot, Isiolo and Embu, was organised in July 2013 in Nairobi for sharing and ,, Cause-effect diagrams, to assess validating the outcomes of the consulta- perceived causes – including underlying tion. A Citizens’ Charter of demands was and root causes – as well as perceived formulated in the same workshop, encap- effects of various drought-related sulating snippets from analysis of various phenomena, e.g. charcoal burning. drought-mitigation policies in Kenya, voices of drought-affected people and demands of ,, Social maps, to get a bird’s-eye view citizens and civil society organisations for a of locations visited during consulta- stronger response to droughts. tion, especially in terms of disparities, Agriculture Sector Development Strategy incidence of issues, key features and This section outlines the key contents of endowments. each of these policies in brief. ,, Mobility maps, to understand people’s experiences and hardships related to access of important needs of survival, based on analysis of dispersion and accessibility of vital institutions, places and services.

,, Resource maps, for analysis of availability and accessibility of important survival resources, particularly in the wake of crises.

,, Seasonality diagrams, to understand patterns of climatic variations, incidence of droughts, changes in degrees of hardship and availability of coping resources across months of the year.

,, Daily activity schedules, for analysis of incidence of hardship within a typical day in the lives of a range of people, especially from vulnerable communities.

10 11 Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play

3. Drought mitigation policies

12 13 Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play

3. Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play

3.1 National Policy for Disaster Management 3.2 National Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya (Draft) Policy

The draft National Policy for Disaster The National Food and Nutrition Security Management in Kenya stresses the need Policy aims to protect vulnerable populations for disaster preparedness on the part of by promoting safety nets linked to long-term government, communities and other stake- development. It recognises the importance of holders in Disaster Risk Reduction activities, financing an institutional and legal framework, and provides for systematic monitoring and and seeks to address the crucial issues of early evaluation of the whole Disaster Manage- warning and emergency management, which ment System, as well as the management are critical to disaster risk reduction. of every disaster response. It acknowledges the effects of several disaster-causing factors Our analysis on the management of disasters, including The policy needs to be made effective by insti- persistent poverty; various forms of conflicts, tutionalising and implementing the Agriculture, including resource-based, inter-ethnic and Livestock, Fisheries and Food Authority Act cross-cultural conflicts; rapid population growth 2013, the Agricultural and Livestock Research combined with rapid rural-urban migration and Act, 2013, and the Crops Act 2013. It needs to excessive growth of unplanned informal urban facilitate implementation of the constitutional settlements; and the impact of climate change provisions on land, and protect the ownership (CC). It provides for enactment of an enabling and access to community lands by commu- comprehensive legislative framework, which nity members. In addition, it needs to take lays down the legal foundation for collaborative meaningful steps towards issuing title deeds partnership in the institutional participatory to marginalised groups including women, management of disasters. promote water harvesting for domestic use, and livestock and climate sensitive crop Our analysis production. It also needs to align the work of However, the draft policy needs to be enacted government and civil society organisations, with clear commitments to gender-sensitive and invest on building food reserves. drought risk assessment (including community participation), strengthening early warning 3.3 National Climate Change Response systems, promoting appropriate social protec- Strategy tion policies, and providing compensation for disaster losses with a special focus on vulner- The National Climate Change Response able groups such as women, children, the Strategy is the first national strategy to fully elderly and persons with disability and people acknowledge the reality of climate change in living with HIV. It also needs to provide for Kenya. It comes as a sequel to the National investment in building the capacity of the most Climate Change Action Plan 2013-17, which vulnerable communities and local authorities comprehensively assessed the evidence and to withstand and recover quickly from drought impacts of climate change in Kenya based on stress and shocks, and for the promotion of data from the past 50 years. climate-resilient livelihoods and institutional- isation of a minimum support price for live- Our analysis stock. Most importantly, it needs to allocate However, the strategy needs to be followed by 5% of budgets at national and county level to implementation of the climate change policy, disaster management, and set up contingency integrated with policies and strategies of rele- funds accessible to vulnerable groups and vant departments and line ministries. There’s people living in poverty and exclusion at the also a need for enactment of the Climate county level. Change Authority Bill, and promotion of appropriate social protection policies to enhance the resilience of poor and vulnerable communities. Systems for planning and implementing development and resilience-building programmes

12 13 Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play

need to be reviewed at all levels to incorporate needs to form a core part of this process, flexibility through decentralisation and commu- alongside the facilitation of access to water nity ownership. Greater public opinion needs to structures, grazing land and markets for pasto- be mobilised in favour of Kenya’s international ralists. Youth-led initiatives in agriculture need clamour for knowledge and resources for effec- to be encouraged to deal with issues of food tive climate change adaptation, and for advo- insecurity and unemployment. Comprehensive cacy to make developed nations comply with eco-system based approaches to adaptation calls for them to reduce their carbon footprints and mitigation need to be mainstreamed, and and greenhouse gas emissions. Specific action laws protecting women’s land rights need to plans need to be asked for from county govern- be operationalised. ments in line with the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017, and explicit budgets need to be allocated for activities related to climate change. Capacities of government authorities need to be enhanced at all levels to deal with the impacts of climate change, and active partnerships need to be developed with civil societies to achieve the goals of the policy.

3.4 Agriculture Sector Development Strategy

The Agriculture Sector Development Strategy 2009-2020 traces the responsibilities of the agricultural sector across 10 ministries and calls for strong partnerships with several other ministries and stakeholders including the private sector, development partners and other non-state actors. It proposes revision and consolidation of 131 pieces of contradictory or obsolete legislation into the Agriculture, Live- stock, Fisheries and Food Authority Act 2013, the Agricultural and Livestock Research Act, 2013, and the Crops Act 2013.

Our analysis All the same, the government needs to continue to invest at least 10% of national budget in agriculture, in line with the Maputo declaration. An operational framework needs to be developed for effective coordination across all stakeholders, primarily the drought-affected communities (and especially women), who need to be engaged actively in implementation of the policy. Agricultural credit needs to be made accessible to women and smallholder farmers, and extension services must be available free of charge to women and smallholder farmers. There’s also a need for investments in building the capacity of government staff and public-private partnerships to achieve the goals of the strategy. The indigenous and traditional knowledge of farmers

14 15 Drought mitigation policies: an analysis of the current state of play

14 15 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

4. People’s voices

16 17 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

4. People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Women and girls: bearing the brunt of drought This section describes, in their own words, the experiences of people living on the edge Women and children, particularly girls, are in Kenya – particularly women – as they cope affected most severely by frequent droughts, with frequent drought. To date, people have which substantially aggravate their vulnerability survived these crises purely by virtue of their in a patriarchal society. During consultations resilience against steep odds. with communities in Kenya, women’s experience of inequities and violence were discussed These experiences, views and aspirations were in line with the framework of the Convention on voiced during a nationwide consultation with the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination drought-affected people in Kenya in four key Against Women (CEDAW). In the wake of a areas: impacts on women; rights to land and drought, women and girls have to bear the adequate housing; livelihoods, and disaster brunt of the stress on a household’s struggles risk reduction (along with the governance of for survival, which often subjects them to issues stemming from the crises). The discus- various forms and degrees of violence and sions were guided by the International Human inequalities, and commonly results in a dispro- Rights Framework and ActionAid’s human portionately unequal share of workload within rights-based approach to poverty reduction the household and greater levels of drudgery to and development. fulfil various basic household needs. The international human rights framework states that all people have a human right to a standard of living that is adequate for “We spend the whole day fetching water as their health and wellbeing, to food, clothing, we go to Thiba dam – that is about 12 km housing, medical care and social services, from our village!” civil and political freedoms. However, many people living in poverty experience a dispro- – A woman in Muthilu village, Makima portionate lack of enjoyment of their human rights… “Some of us are not well enough to get the water all the way to our homes. Those who Furthermore, active processes of discrim- cannot, have to buy it at 30 shillings for a ination and impoverishment are at work, jerry can of 20 litres and pay 200 shillings meaning that their rights are denied. Poverty for a drum of water.” is thus explained as a denial or a violation of human rights, though not all violations of - An elderly community member, Muthilu human rights cause poverty. village, Makima

The human rights-based approach to poverty “Our children, especially girls, spend a lot eradication and development is thus best of time looking for water instead of being in explained as having poor people fulfill their school. I dropped out of school because I had individual needs by claiming or securing to accompany my mother to look for water their human rights2. and food, and to take care of my siblings during the drought.” Key message emerging from consultations with drought-affected people in Kenya relates to - Two women from Kruru and Chesakam the denial or violation of human rights through villages processes of discrimination and impoverishment, which poor people experience in normal “Six households had miscarriages in the last day-to-day life. These are also inherent in two years... we feel it is because they are disaster response policies and practices, and forced to carry heavy loads for long distances these violations are exacerbated post-disaster. (water, firewood, charcoal etc.).”

- A man from Kamayet village in Kongelai

2 ActionAid International (2008): Human Rights-Based Approaches to Poverty Eradication and Development.

16 17 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

“During the dry season (November to “Men spend their wages on the local brew August) we rely mainly on charcoal burning and some even consume drugs. When they to meet our daily needs. At this time our come home and find no food, they turn husbands are usually away on migration in around and beat us up. So women are forced search of pasture. During these times, if we to fend for themselves and their children and are in some emergency for cash, produc- arrange food for the home.” tion and sale of charcoal becomes our only profession. We walk for 30 km one way, at – A woman in Makima night, thus exposing ourselves to attacks by wild animals. We stay in Kapengurai until Civil upheavals, including conflicts over natural all the charcoal is sold. Even this leads to resources, have produced an unprecedented vulnerability. It usually takes a whole day number of women-headed households across to sell charcoal because customers wait for the country. Women are the most vulnerable the prices to go down in the evening. We use during times of conflict. Their control over donkeys to ferry charcoal (1 bag per donkey) productive assets and participation in deci- and the current price is US$7 per bag. Each sion-making at household and community family sells an average of 3 bags of charcoal levels is challenged severely during times of every two weeks.” stress, and with limited mobility and access to traditional livelihoods they are often forced to The compulsion to go the extra mile to meet cope with crises by, for instance, resorting to the basic needs of a household often exposes charcoal burning or taking up casual labour and women to violence, both within as well as commercial sex work. Pregnant and lactating outside the home. Women often have to sell women as well as women with dependent their bodies to make both ends meet, or have children are found to be the most vulnerable to contend with the wrath of male members of as stressful times aggravate their access to the household for any lapse in performance of nutrition and rest. Widows and girls who do not household chores. During consultations with have male guardians often miss opportunities communities in Kenya, various accounts of of education and inheritance. violence and discrimination faced by women came to light. “Why is it that only the women and children are working? Most men are out in Tika and “During times of drought, it is very tough Mwea. There are many women who live as on women. During these times most of the single women, either because they have been men disappear. Women are left to do menial abandoned by their husbands or they have works and some even try to sell their bodies lost their husbands. There are many widows for sex to get some money for the home, as amongst us.” during these times they have no support at all. When women hear the cries of the chil- – A community member in Makima dren, they do not mind taking up any work, including prostitution. This leads to AIDS and also contributes to a lot of instability in 4.1.2 Drought: speeding the erosion of land the family. The men try to run away during rights times of hunger and come back when there is food. Divorces are also very common during Throughout our consultations with people in these times.” Kenya, denial of land rights emerged as a root cause of rising vulnerability and marginalisation “Our women used to go to get relief food and among pastoral and agricultural communities. had to wait for so long that they could return There were strong concerns expressed about back only in the morning. This led to a lot of an unprecedented escalation of land grabs, suspicion and violence in the family.” land enclosures, internal displacement of indigenous communities and resulting conflict and – Women in Muthilu marginalisation of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

18 19 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

This causes serious socio-economic problems. We were eventually evicted again from there Throughout Kenya, practices of community by a cooperative of farmers who staked claim ownership of land are under threat from land over it. I finally moved to Wawa in the year grabs. In many cases people have no titles 1992 as a widow with six children, one of over their land, despite the fact that their family whom has a disability. Today I take care of may have been there for generations. 10 grandchildren, after my children left for the rice growing areas in search of livelihood The growing number of internally displaced as casual labourers. The place where I came persons (IDPs) emerged as a key issue of from at least had rains and we had a better concern of drought-affected people in Kenya. life. Today I am not even able to send my Communities said that instances of land grab- child to school as I have no money.” bing and conflicts are rising rise due to clashes relating to clan/political identity, infrastructure - An IDP now living in Kakawa, a village of projects and industrial policies, which have internally displaced households in Kenya aggravated the vulnerabilities of communities. Landlessness has hampered the stability of “When the Masinga Dam was being built, tenure for a large number of people, even in many of us were displaced from its catch- their homelands. Further, many people are ments. The government had promised us driven out of townships and areas owned by compensation in cash and land but this has trusts because of ethnic tensions over distribu- still not been given. Some of the powerful tion of land and wealth across various ethnic people were able to get land assigned to identities. Perceptions of nepotism along ethnic them. Those of us who were able to get some lines for political posts and business dealings land in other villages were targeted during have also led to large-scale violence and polit- the political unrest, and many of us were ical instability. evicted.”

“Most of us have moved in here in the last 10 – A community member in Makima years. Some of us have moved in as a result of ethnic conflicts that displaced us from our “The dam was built in 1980 and we have original homesteads, and it is no longer safe waited since 1981 until now and we do not for us to return to our original villages. Some know for how long we will have to continue of us are evicted labourers from ranches and waiting. More than a thousand families were large farms owned by powerful people. Some affected.” of us have been displaced by the Masinga Dam project. This used to be a dense forest – A community member in Muthilu village, but the forest is no longer there, as we had Makima to clear the forest areas to produce food as well as for some cash income. But now, after “When I came to Muthilu in 2001, I got a the forests have gone, we are not getting any shamba of six acres. I built a small shack and rains and we have been facing consecutive cleared all the bushes and was getting ready years of drought. We cannot even ask the to cultivate it when some powerful people government representatives for help as came and destroyed it all. When I used to go they will immediately evict us out of Wawa, to get water or to the church, on returning I which is an area demarcated as forest. I would see all my possessions and cultivated was one of the first settlers in Wawa. I have land destroyed. They would use tractors and been a refugee within my own country many destroy all that I have done. They used to times over. I used to work in a white man’s come with machetes and threaten me to get farm. He at least gave us a salary and we out of the land. Out of the six acres that I had, had regular income... now we get nothing. they have now pushed me to a corner where I Farmers who took over the ranch after the now cultivate 3⁄4 of an acre. I took the matter white man left burned my house. I then to the Assistant chief. They feared to take settled in another land where many like me action as they were afraid of uprisings by the had settled. powerful in Gategi.

18 19 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

During the rains of 2005, after I had sown Women are systematically denied their rights to the land, these people threw weed seeds access, own, control or inherit land and prop- mixed with harmful chemicals into the land. erty, though constitutionally men and women The chickens I had ate these, and all of them have equal rights over land. The current died. The crop was also spoilt. The rains land policy acknowledges gross disparities washed them away. I had planted many trees in land ownership as well as discrimination and they also uprooted these. I reported in succession, transfer and decision-making this also to the chief and nothing has yet processes related to land. It emerged clearly happened. When I asked the perpetrators, during the consultations with people that they replied that ‘you are a muki (alien), and economic empowerment of women depends you do not belong to this place!’ Now they on their ability to access natural and economic have built a house on my land and I live in a resources. corner with 3⁄4 of an acre.” “None of us have access to land titles and – A community member in Muthilu village, most of our conflict and turmoil start from Makima this. Yet, when it’s election time, they put up polling stations and come to seek our votes.” “We came from Katothia, on the catchment of Masinga Dam. Rising waters forced us – A woman in Makima to move to the upper grounds. We built our house in the upper lands, which was burnt by “I got married in 1986, but was kicked out the land cooperative of that area and we were of my in-laws’ household. In 2001, a local pushed to Ekalakala in Machakos district in person gave me some land to farm. But some 1995. Due to continued harassment by the of the local people in the area kicked me out. community there, we left in 2000 and moved I want to be heard...!” to Muthiru with our family. There was a lot of violence against us when we came and – A woman in Muthilu village, Makima I applied the principle of giving way to the strong ones. I have finally been able to live on Inability to secure justice in the wake of forced four acres.” evictions emerged as another major issue during the consultations. Even in cases where – A community member in Muthilu village, people moved to courts in pursuit of claims Makima of rehabilitation or justice, their grievances could not be redressed. In Makima, community “There are many of us whose farms have voices highlighted a total collapse of access to been taken away by the powerful through land titles and justice in the face of land grabs acts of injustice!” and state-initiated internal displacement of marginal communities. - Community member, Muthilu village, Makima “I moved because of severe droughts in Kangonde (Yatta district). Following the Despite the Kenyan government being a clouds, I reached here in 1999. One day I signatory of international agreements such as went to buy milk and was beaten up by those the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms who did not want me to settle here. I went to of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), court but nothing happened. They came with and the International Conference for Agrarian a tractor and cleared all that I had started Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD), cultivating. I went to court in Kilio where I less than 5% of women in the country own was informed to stay satisfied with what I land. Moreover, while the Economic Recovery had. They continue to threaten me!” Strategy 2003-2007 estimated that more than 70% of agricultural labour is supplied by – A community member in Muthilu village, women, ActionAid’s Right to Food Report 2005 Makima shows that less than 5% of women control and own land.

20 21 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

“Recently the Somalis were pushing into agreements. In the wake of droughts, this leads Borana land. We went to court and filed to conflicts, which have long been endemic on a case with the Independent Electoral lands that share borders with the north-eastern Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The case part of Uganda, southern Somalia and Ethiopia. was thrown out on technicalities without addressing our fundamental concerns. “We do not have any market for our livestock. I am very bitter about the price. I look after “Sometime back our fathers and other elders the animals for eight years and then the were given allotment forms for our farms middleman comes and makes the money. I in Gategi. We are still waiting for title deeds want justice to be done and to have access to like pregnant women with no due date for the market, preferably within Sericho.” delivery. This is not helping us as we are unable to access credit from banks or even – A community member in Sericho use them as collateral to access health needs when there is an emergency. We are all facing “The rich white farmers can buy animals the same problems across this area.” here, put them in their private holding grounds, treat them for a few days and sell -A woman in Makima village them at a higher price. Today our animals can’t sell for one hundred thousand. The 4.1.3 Drought and ever-dwindling liveli- highest price is US$571, with the average hoods being US$228-342. Once it goes to the holding ground, it can sell for US$1,141- Communities across Kenya see pastoralism 1,711. The person who worked for 10 years as a livelihood with dwindling prospects and got just US$228; but the one who spends six have little hopes for its revival. The country days gets US$1,711!” has suffered great loss of livestock due to recurrent droughts, particularly in the ASAL Chief Abdillahi, Sericho, Kenya regions, where frequent droughts have made pasture land disappear and water difficult to Due to the increased frequency of droughts access. Most households that were completely and the resultant increase in poverty, pasto- dependent on pastoralism have been forced ralists in Kenya are increasingly diversifying to seek other livelihoods. Before, ownership their sources of livelihood. The commonest of livestock ensured food sufficiency and was shift is to smallholder farming (especially along seen as an end in itself. However, due to falling riverbeds), petty trading and casual/wage herd sizes and increasing reliance upon alter- employment. The main source of livelihood native livelihood options, cattle ownership is in the Isiolo region is pastoralism; while in now being increasingly seen as a means to an Makima the majority of households depend on end – of acquiring money to acquire other skills crop farming with 1-5 acres of land, on which and assets. Communities consulted in Kenya they grow green grams, beans and maize as also pointed at great difficulties in disposing the main crops. Crop failure is common in the of their livestock because of several market ASAL, attributed to the shift from more tradi- deficiencies. Among those who continue being tional and drought-resistant crops to crops that pastoralist, many households lose their animals are susceptible to dry spells. because of lack of pasture and water during droughts, as well as animal diseases and cattle According to people, the problem facing rustling by neighbouring communities. As the agriculture is that of increased uncertainty in drought intensifies, they are left with no option weather conditions for a region that is princi- but to migrate. The migrating families are pally dependent on pastoralism and rain-fed vulnerable because they normally go to areas agriculture. The fundamental practice of agri- where they are strangers, with host communi- culture as a livelihood for food production has ties taking advantage of them. Also, restrictions changed over the years, with an emphasis on movement of pastoralists have pushed them now to produce crops for income. New vari- to graze their cattle closer to populations with eties of seeds have been introduced as high- whom they historically do not have access yield varieties and the commercialisation of

22 23 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

agriculture through input-based farming has “During the harvest we sell a kilo of maize made agro-pastoral communities vulnerable for KSh.10 or even 5. But during droughts we to market forces. This has weakened their buy a kg at even KSh 100!” resilience to crises and their traditional coping mechanisms, and has made the farmer more – A community member in Makima vulnerable and food insecure over time. Importantly, with modernisation, even among “We do not have organised marketing chan- agrarian communities, the traditional-knowl- nels. We sell individually.” edge systems of farm-based food production have been dwindling. Lack of good roads and – A community member in Poole limited access to markets has further made them vulnerable to traders who exploit this The breakdown of agricultural and pastoral situation. livelihoods across Kenya has resulted in rural communities moving to nearby urban areas “Even in the 1990s we used to have a lot of and large cities to work as casual labour, and options – we used to have a lot of cattle and on precarious terms. In Makima, many families our land used to produce much more. We migrate to Mwea region as casual labour in the used to produce 8-10 sacks of maize in a good rice fields. year, 8 in an average year and up to 5 in a bad year. After this our land productivity 4.1.4 Disaster risk reduction: not protecting has dipped sharply as the rains are very natural resources unpredictable and the land has degenerated. The most we get is about 5 bags in a good People consulted during the study pointed year and most other time we almost lose at the critical role of forests, traditional food everything and get nothing at all. We are production systems and community manage- being pushed by the change in climate as well ment of natural resources as possible interven- as injustice, corruption, and partiality in the tions for disaster risk reduction. access of development support.” - A community member in Makima “Cutting trees has resulted in frequent droughts. There are people who want to grab “We do not have a cereal board and have little land and if we plant trees, they uproot them help to market our produce. With the cereal as they do not want the land to be demar- board, we can keep our maize in good condi- cated. Due to this there is no progress in our tion and retain it till the prices are good.” area. This leads to more deforestation and the droughts are getting stronger.” – A community member in Makima – A community member in Makima “The board can also lend us money when the crop is still not harvested.” “Our population has grown fast and some people have taken over land that belonged – A community member in Makima to the community and [are] converting [that land] to homesteads. People clear the “When we get a harvest, we are forced to commonly owned pasture tracks and forests sell all of it as we have to generate cash for and squat on the land. This has affected our school fees, uniforms, books and other urgent forest cover and pasture.” pending needs for the home. So once we are finished with all our cereals we are forced to – A community member in Kruru buy the same from the traders at an inflated price since we have no other cash crop. The “We have abandoned our traditional food and household budget which used to be much this has affected our life style and health. lower, is now very high!” People are no longer planting traditional crops like sorghum or millets.” – A community member in Makima – A community member in Makima

22 23 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

Communities in the villages studied reported relating to health, education and other devel- that burning trees to make charcoal has opment-related services. Frequent conflict, become more common – a trend attributable droughts and flooding further exacerbate the to the growing need to generate income to vulnerabilities faced by people, as during pay for food, water, education and health care. these times, access to some villages becomes During the dry season (November to August), difficult, making access to education and other women in Kongelai rely mainly on preparing basic amenities and services problematic. In and selling charcoal to meet their daily needs, Kruru, the community cited an example where while their husbands are away in search of a government vaccination campaign was pastures for livestock. An average family would carried out in a neighbouring village and they cut between three to four trees a day (it takes (Kruru residents) only came to learn about it one average-sized tree to produce approxi- three days later. The fact that their village is not mately one bag of charcoal). Donkeys are used accessible by normal vehicles means that they to carry charcoal to the market (one bag per rarely get information in time. donkey) and women are currently able to sell charcoal at about US$6.85 “There is no health facility in the locality. The per bag, at an average of three bags of nearest health outpost is about 10 km from charcoal every two weeks. The women from our village (Gategi) and for serious problems Chesakam walk up to 30 km each way – we need to go to Makima – that is 19 km usually at night to avoid the heat of the sun, away. The nearest doctor is available only though this exposes them to attacks by wild in Embu. There is no public transport that animals. They stay in Kapenguria until all connects our villages to any of these places. the charcoal is sold. It often takes the entire Accessing health in these places is also not day as customers usually wait for prices to affordable and we generally avoid it because fall towards evening. Villagers in Kamayet of this.” identified charcoal burning as the livelihood that generated the most reliable and profitable – Community members in Gategi source of income for the community, though they recognised it is not a sustainable source of “During pregnancy we cannot access income as it destroys vast tracts of forest. services unless we travel to Garba Tula or Isiolo (50 km and 200 km away respec- Other strategies to cope with the adverse tively). If we have to get to these health impacts of drought recounted by people in centres, we need to spend at least US$80 various parts of Kenya included consuming or US$195 (for Isiolo) to get an ambulance. wild food, chewing miraa, sedentarisation, Someone died yesterday because the medical withdrawing children from school and involving staff members from Isiolo were demanding them in livelihoods and domestic work, selling US$195 to provide an ambulance to take the household assets including livestock, drinking patient to Isiolo hospital. The person was cattle blood, eating wild animal meat and buried in Sericho today.” requesting the support of neighbours and clan members to tide them over times of distress – Community elder in Sericho during drought.

4.1.5 Government action and inaction: “Walking long distances poses several risks compounding the effects of drought to us women and girls. We risk attacks from wild animals and as we carry heavy loads According to communities consulted in Kenya, on our backs, be it water or firewood. We are the state has been unable to make adequate likely to develop health problems – especially investment in providing basic amenities and back problems.” services to the growing numbers of drought-affected people in the country. The social infra- – Women in Kongelai structure in Kenya has clearly not kept pace with growing population needs. Rural Kenya “Most of our sick are expectant mothers and has some of the poorest infrastructure density infants as we cannot access any health point.

24 25 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

Kruru can only be accessed by four-wheel vehicles. We are cut off from all essential “[The] Constituency Development Fund allo- services like health and commercial activi- cated some money which was not enough to ties.” build classrooms. We have three incomplete classrooms. The school can only be regis- A common aspiration of many communi- tered when we have permanent classrooms. ties consulted in Kenya is for government If our children have to move beyond class support to sell livestock at fair prices during three, they have to walk 8 km across two times of distress. Poor livestock offtake was rivers to continue learning.” cited by many as a key factor in the push to sell livestock at low prices. Communities – Early Childhood Development teacher in in various parts of Kenya spoke of their Kruru, Kenya isolation in access to markets, because of the near-absent transport infrastructure, often “Our MP promised us piped water from that forcing them to sell livestock at a much lower waterfall (pointing to a waterfall). He even cost to merchants reaching their village. brought us these pipes. After elections, he Many also would like the government to forgot us and never came back to complete construct export-quality abattoirs in places the project. Now the pipes just lie around such as Isiolo, which would help them get here.” better prices for their livestock. - A woman in Kamayech village “Restrictions stop us from selling our animals abroad. We do not have the holding “We need to do something to support youth ground now. We need the holding ground education. The nearest youth polytechnic is services. The services are not offered by the more than 24 km away.” government.” – A parent from Kakaawa village - Chief Abdillahi, Sericho “I have completed a diploma in social “We do not have access to the market. We studies. To date, I have attended several urge the government to look at our problem government interviews without success. I and help us solve it. We have our own feel that being the only person with such a community based organisation, which needs qualification in the whole location, I should support in accessing markets.” be given affirmative consideration and opportunities.” – A community member in Sericho – John Rokitangi Lokiwlou, 28, in Kruru “Though we own livestock, they lack certifi- village, Kongelai cation. This has ensured that we do not have access to foreign market.” People also expressed resentment against the growing role of the private sector in providing – A community member in Sericho market-driven services, which often tends to inflate prices of essential goods beyond afford- According to people, the state has been able limits. unable to respond effectively to droughts or initiate preventive actions. In several places, “During drought, water is expensive. In communities expressed anguish about their Namicha people were buying a litre at 100 exclusion from consultation on the part of shillings.” state agencies to take on board their priorities and aspirations. National budgets are generally - An elderly person in Modogashe skewed towards national security, and very little is allocated to public service provision According to many, most of the development and/or cushioning rural communities from the plans in the country overlook the ecological adverse impacts of disasters. suitability and economic strengths of pastoralist

24 25 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

systems in the arid and semi-arid rangelands. “Land is a critical need, for us to be able to Development plans that have prioritised urban access basic services, amenities and other settlements have encouraged people to settle, forms of development support to our areas. which has in turn reduced the stakes formerly Land needs to be freed from being grabbed by held by pastoralists in rangeland manage- the rich and the powerful and maintained as ment – allowing land to be usurped by vested a community asset.” interests. Traditional methods of rangeland management through community-based “Disarmament operations should be volun- institutions have given way to increasing tary and peaceful.” state-aided appropriation of land for private interests. Several transnational ventures are “We want our food plates to be more healthy, in the process of acquiring large stretches of nutritious, diverse and market-independent, land in the country, including Bedford Biofuels and less infested with pesticides and chem- Ltd. (Canada), G4 Industries Ltd. (UK), Flow ical fertilisers.” Energy Ltd. (Australia), Mat International, and the Governments of Qatar and China, to name “We want policies to be written in languages a few. we can read and understand. We need to be considered as an important partner in the 4.2 Implications for policy and practice planning process and be included in policy formulation processes.” These consultations with drought-affected people in various parts of Kenya highlight the “Widows like me need access to credit to buy range of aspirations of local communities for cereals that I can sell and get some income. greater social equity in crisis-response inter- If I get support from the bursary I can even ventions, and accountable governance for educate my child. I hear that children of dealing with recurrent crises. Here are some: widows in Embu and Gategi are given this support.” “We want a greater role of the government in creation of livelihoods, management of “We need better roads, particularly during grazing lands, restocking livestock, meeting rainy seasons, as the existing facilities are water needs and in building food reserves. located at a distance.” In the earlier days, the government used to make major decisions during times of “Territorial restriction on movement of distress.” pastoralists and their livestock needs to be prevented during droughts. They also need “We want adequate information about to be provided protection from gun wielders.” disaster risk reduction strategies and about all the changes that have been happening. “Violence aggravates the drought. It Innovations for adapting to the changes prevents the weak and the small families should be supported by funds.” from accessing and protecting food and basic necessities.” “We want government offices to be accessible all the time, free of corruption, sensitive to The recurrent and increasingly intense cycles our conditions and answerable.” of drought in Kenya have threatened the very existence of pastoral and agro-pastoral “The internally displaced people and communities in the country. Severe droughts returnees need greater attention and means have led to huge losses of life and property, of survival in the wake of droughts. Those distress migration, loss of crops and live- suffering displacement due to dams and large stock, widespread collapse of development projects need to be compensated adequately infrastructure, low water levels in rivers and with land and financial resources.” streams, loss of biodiversity and decline in accessibility of water. These have been aggravated further by ethnic conflicts and inade-

26 27 People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya People’s voices: the experience of drought in Kenya

quate state attention for pressing issues and actions to rebuild the resilience of vulnerable the legitimate rights of people. Such situations communities, pointing at a nexus of social, have pushed vulnerable communities to cope political and economic factors that have exac- with the crises in various unusual ways, e.g. erbated the adverse impacts of droughts for burning trees, selling fire wood, consuming vulnerable communities. A Citizens’ Charter of wild food etc. Many have lapsed into extreme key demands and expectations of citizens and forms of dependency on aid institutions and prominent civil society organisations in Kenya their delivery. is presented in the following section.

Consultations with people across the country have brought to the fore voices that demand

26 27 The Citizens’ Charter The Citizens’ Charter

5. The Citizens’ Charter

28 29 The Citizens’ Charter The Citizens’ Charter

5. The Citizens’ Charter

5.1 Current drought policies and strategies: what we commend 3. National Climate Change Response Strategy We the undersigned came together on 10 ,, For being the first national strategy to fully July, 2013 in Nairobi, and looked closely at the acknowledge the reality of climate change following policies and strategies (among others) in Kenya. related to drought: the Draft National Policy for ,, For speedily following up the strategy with Disaster Management in Kenya, the National the National Climate Change Action Plan Food and Nutrition Security Policy, the National (NCCAP) 2013-17 which comprehensively Climate Change Response Strategy, and the assessed the evidence and impacts of Agriculture Sector Development Strategy. climate change in Kenya based on data from the past 50 years. Our observations are as follows. 4. Agriculture Sector Development Strategy We commend the Government of Kenya for (ASDS) 2009-2020 incorporating the following in the: ,, For recognising that the responsibilities of the agricultural sector spread across 1. Draft National Policy for Disaster 10 ministries would require strong part- Management in Kenya nerships with several other ministries and ,, Emphasis on disaster preparedness on the stakeholders, including the private sector, part of the government, communities and development partners and other non-state other stakeholders in disaster risk reduction actors. activities. ,, For proposing the necessary revision and ,, Providing for systematic monitoring and consolidation of 131 pieces of legislation evaluation of the whole disaster manage- that cause contradictions or are obsolete, ment system, as well as the management into the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries of every disaster response. and Food Authority Act 20133, the Agricul- ,, Acknowledging the effects of the following tural and Livestock Research Act, 20134 disaster-causing factors on disaster and the Crops Act 20135. management: • The stubborn insistence of poverty everywhere; and the deepening resource-based, inter-ethnic and 5.2 Why we need to go further than this cross-cultural conflicts, fuelled by politically motivated Full implementation of the above policies and structural conflicts. strategies would no doubt ease the burden of • Rapid population growth combined with rapid rural- drought impact on communities. However, there urban migration and excessive growth of populations are many areas of concern highlighted by our in unplanned informal urban settlements. consultation with communities from West Pokot, • And last but not the least, the impact of climate Isiolo and Embu – experiences that are also change. felt in other drought-prone areas of Kenya. The ,, Providing for enactment of an enabling most shocking and concerning of these are: comprehensive legislative framework, which lays down the legal foundation for ,, unabated instances of gender-based collaborative partnership in the institutional violence faced by women and girls in their participatory management of disasters. struggle for survival, including incidents of rape, female genital mutilation, early 2. National Food and Nutrition Security marriages and sexual exploitation. We Policy acknowledge the disproportionately high ,, For incorporating a specific objective of workload and relentless stress borne by protecting vulnerable populations using women in managing households during safety nets linked to long-term develop- droughts. Our thoughts and solidarity are ment. For addressing crucial issues of early with them. warning and emergency management which ,, the dwindling prospects of pastoralism – are critical to disaster risk reduction. the mainstay livelihood of a large number ,, For recognising the importance of institu- of vulnerable households in Kenya – on tional and legal framework financing. 3 Assented on 14 January 2013 and commencement date 25 January 2013. 4 Assesnted on 14 January 2013 and commencement date 25 January 2013. 5 Assented on 14 Janury 2013 and commencement date to be given by notice. 28 29 The Citizens’ Charter The Citizens’ Charter

account of limited access to markets, organisations and development partners have erratic fluctuations in prices, increasing an important role to play in eliminating its disappearance of pasture lands, scarcity of adverse impact. water, cattle rustling, animal diseases and difficulties in disposing of herds. The crisis 5.3 Citizens’ Charter: our call to action is aggravated by stark decline in returns We urge the government to act on the from agriculture, due to increased uncer- following demands relating to the various tainty in weather conditions and increasing policies and strategies as follows. commercialisation through input-based farming, which increase the vulnerability 1. Draft National Policy for Disaster of agro-pastoral communities to market Management in Kenya forces. ,, Enact the National Disaster Management Policy with clear commitments to: ,, the increasing dependence of vulnerable • Gender-sensitive drought-risk assessment with populations in various parts of the country community participation. on desperate strategies to cope with the • Strengthen early warning systems to make droughts, including consumption of wild them accessible and meaningful to vulnerable food, charcoal burning, distress migration, groups. exploitative casual labour, sedentarisation, • Develop and promote appropriate social protec- taking children out of school to work, and tion policies to enhance the resilience of poor selling household assets including live- and vulnerable communities. stock etc. • Compensate disaster losses with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, ,, the unprecedented variations in climatic children, the elderly and those living with conditions, manifesting as erratic rain- disability or HIV. fall patterns and drought. These are a • Invest on building the capacity of the most key contributor to the crisis, and we are vulnerable communities and local authorities concerned about the inadequate prepared- to withstand and recover well from drought ness to deal with the adverse effects of stresses and shocks. both on immediate and long-term basis. • Invest in diversifying livelihoods that are climate resilient. ,, the denial of land titles and justice in the • Institutionalise the minimum support price for face of land grabs and displacement of livestock to avoid distress sales. marginal communities caused by large • Allocate and distribute 5% of the national projects, land enclosures, and poor land budget to disaster management at national and systems among others, especially in rela- county levels. tion to big projects such as LAPSET and oil ,, Set up contingency funds accessible to explorations and exploitations. vulnerable groups and people living in poverty and exclusion at the county level. ,, the acute inadequacy and limited budget allocations for basic amenities and 2. National Food and Nutrition Security services for the growing numbers of Policy drought-affected people in the country, ,, Institutionalise and implement the Agri- particularly in view of the already poor culture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food infrastructure for health, education and Authority Act 2013, the Agricultural and other vital services. Livestock Research Act, 2013 and the practices of corruption in public offices, Crops Act 2013, including the following: responsible for denying people vital entitle- • Facilitate the implementation of constitutional provi- ments and legal remedies. sions on land. • Facilitate the protection of ownership and access to Having analysed and understood the policies, community lands by community members. and having listened to the voices of the most • Issue title deeds to marginalised groups, including vulnerable experiencing the impact of drought, women. we believe that the government, civil society • Promote water harvesting for domestic use, livestock

30 31 The Citizens’ Charter The Citizens’ Charter

and climate-sensitive crop production. ,, Develop and share operational frameworks • Invest in food reserves. (planning and budgeting) for effective • Align the work of government and civil society organ- coordination among – and participation of – isations. all stakeholders, including drought-affected 3. National Climate Change Response communities and especially women. Strategy ,, Offer agricultural credit accessible to ,, Implement the climate change policy and women and smallholder farmers. integrate it with the policies and strategies ,, Extension services must be available free of of relevant departments and line ministries. cost and accessible to women and small- ,, Enact the Climate Change Authority Bill. holder farmers. ,, Develop and promote appropriate social ,, Promote the embedding of scientific knowl- protection policies to enhance the resilience edge and indigenous/traditional knowledge of poor and vulnerable communities. in agricultural development. ,, Review systems to incorporate flexibility at ,, Invest on building the capacity of Public all levels of planning and implementation Private Partnerships (PPP), government of development and resilience-building staff and local communities to achieve the programmes through decentralisation and goals of the strategy. community ownership. ,, Facilitate access by pastoralists to water ,, Invest on promoting citizens’ awareness structures, grazing land and markets. and mobilising public opinion to support ,, Operationalise legislation regarding its international clamour for knowledge women’s land rights. and resources for effective climate change ,, Mainstream ecosystem-based approaches adaptation. to adaptation and mitigation. ,, Create disaggregated evidence for advo- ,, Encourage youth-led initiatives in agriculture cating and ensuring developed nations’ to deal with issues of food insecurity and compliance with reducing their carbon unemployment. footprints and greenhouse gas emissions. Support and demanspecific action plans We urge donors to: from county government to deal with climate ,, Let the Government of Kenya and other change, in line with the National Climate local partners, if any, to set their own devel- Change Action Plan 2013-2017. opment strategies, improve institutions and ,, Allocate budget for climate change-related tackle corruption. activities from public finance. ,, Extend support in line with the strategies ,, Build capacity of government authorities at of the Government of Kenya, and use local all levels to deal with the impacts of climate systems. change. ,, Coordinate actions, simplify procedures and ,, Actively partner with civil society to achieve share information to avoid duplication the goals of the policy. ,, Focus on producing – and measuring – ,, Engage meaningfully at the international results. level to advocate that developed nations ,, Be accountable for development results. must reduce greenhouse gas emissions ,, Be flexible. domestically and provide public finance to ,, Support civil society to mobilise citizens and deal with the impacts of climate change. their collectives to make government more accountable. 4. Agriculture Sector Development Strategy ,, Honor the Maputo declaration and continue We urge civil society organisations to: to invest at least 10% of national budget on ,, Empower community members so that they agriculture. are able to demand their rights. ,, Engage drought-affected communities – ,, Develop long-term strategies to solve prob- especially women and their representatives lems as opposed to short-term ones. – in policy implementation. ,, Work closely with line ministries of the ,, Public investment must be made in govern- government in order to ensure that vulner- ment-run agricultural research institutions able people’s issues are addressed. to build resilience to disasters and climate change.

30 31 Signatories

10 July 2013 Silver Springs Hotel, Nairobi

No. Name Organisation 1 Esha Abae Community member – Kilifi 2 John Abuya ActionAid International 3 Susan Alukulem Community member – Kongelai 4 Racheal Ambani Mibok 5 Soren Ambrose ActionAid International 6 John Evans Avek Fasterzeve 7 Anindo Banerjee Praxis – Institute for Participatory Practices 8 David Barisa ActionAid International Kenya 9 Kuresha Bure Community member – Isiolo 10 Joseph Charo ActionAid International 11 Clement Chesire ActionAid International Kenya 12 Anika Jane Dorothy University of Nairobi-WOSWA 13 Daniel Ehagi Shape the Child Charity Foundation 14 Yusuf Ekitela Ewesit Community member – Isiolo 15 Jesse Gichini Kenya Climate Change Working Group 16 Miriam Githongo CAPSAY 17 Wachira James Livestock Department, Kajiado 18 Edna Kaptoyo Indigenous I. Network 19 Stephen Karanja Ministry of Water and Irrigation 20 Tito Kariuki Pipal 21 Philip Kilonzo ActionAid International Kenya 22 John Kinuthia IOM 23 Hamilton Kituri Coast Water Services Board 24 Peter Kodwaran MOA 25 Julius Kombe Community member – Kilifi 26 Salim Komora Ministry of Agriculture 27 Bijay Kumar ActionAid International 28 Musa Lelterit Ministry of Livestock Development 29 Philimon Majwa ActionAid International 30 Mary Makau Kenya Climate Change Working Group 31 Juliet Makokha YWCA/ Suswatch 32 Charles Maloba Leadership International 33 Jonah Marahfash KPYI 34 Abraham Meringiro Kongelai 35 Ruth Mitei CARE – Kenya

32 33 No. Name Organisation

36 Amina Mohammad Roots and Shoots 37 Yilma Muluken ActionAid International – IS 38 Beata Musabwemariya ActionAid International 39 Robert Muthami Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance 40 Milka Muthoni University of Nairobi 41 Daniel Muthusi Kenya Climate Change Working Group 42 Shadrack Mututua Community member – Embu county 43 Edgar Mwamuye Ministry of Livestock Development 44 David Mwangi Community member – Embu county 45 Gerald Mwangi Ministry of Agriculture 46 Makena Mwobobia ActionAid International Kenya 47 Christopher Natengena CWOCH 48 Selina Haro Ndeje Community member – Garashi, Marafa Division, Kilifi 49 Winnie Ngarira Green Africa Foundation 50 Dorcas Njoroge Community member – Embu County 51 Elvina Nyevu Community member – Garashi 52 Leonard Ochieng Clarion 53 Caren Oginda Women Political Alliance – Kenya 54 Dickens Okode KCODA 55 Winnie Onyimbo TransWorld Radio 56 Indiazi Peterkings University of Nairobi-PAK 57 Fiona Kathambi Ruth University of Nairobi 58 Fatuma Sama ActionAid International 59 Oyundi Nehondo UNISDR 60 Jeffrey Shibembetsa African Youth Initiative on Change 61 Charles Songok World Food Programme 62 Agnes Supeyo ActionAid International 63 Beatrice Thuita ActionAid International Kenya 64 Stephen Wacheka Ministry of Agriculture 65 Linus Wafula Jaut Goodults – Kenya 66 Kennedy Wakhisi Roots and Shoots 67 Lucy Wanjiku ActionAid International 68 Cynthia Wechabe Indigenous Information Network 69 Tennyson Williams ActionAid International Kenya

32 33 Glossary of key terms

Disaster A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected community/society to cope using its own resources.

Climate change Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation or wind) lasting for an extended period.

Disaster management Disaster management includes organised analysis, planning, decision-making, allocation of resources, roles and responsibilities to prepare, prevent, mitigate, respond and recover from/ rehabilitate after disruptions by disasters.

Disaster risk reduction This is the systematic development and application of policies, strategies and practices to mini- mise vulnerabilities and disaster risks through preparedness, prevention and mitigation of adverse impacts of hazards within a context of sustainable development.

Hazard A hazard is a potentially damaging physical event that may be caused by environmental and bio-technological processes resulting in loss of life and livelihoods, injury, damage to property and infrastructure, disruption of economic and social functioning of individuals/communities threatened by a hazard, and environmental degradation.

Disaster risk Disaster risk is the probability of an individual/community to be adversely impacted by a disaster. The risk is determined by a combination of the hazards that threaten the population and its vulnerability to those hazards.

Vulnerability Vulnerability is the susceptibility of the individual, community, property, infrastructure or the environment to a hazardous event.

Resilience The ability of a social or ecological system to absorb disturbances while retaining the same basic structure and ways of functioning, the capacity for self-organisation, and the capacity to adapt to stress and change.

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ASAL Arid and semi-arid lands CC Climate change DRR Disaster Risk Reduction GDP Gross Domestic Product MDG Millennium Development Goals NGO Non-governmental Organisation