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I. General Overview After Amos Kimunya Stepped Aside As Finance

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I. General Overview After Amos Kimunya Stepped Aside As Finance UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN UPDATE vol. 28 10 July – 16 July 2008 Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya HIGHLIGHTS • KRCS reported that 98,289 IDPs remain in 89 IDP camps as of 8 July; the Government reports that 221,231 IDPs have returned from IDP camps and from communities since the start of the returns operation. • FEWS NET projects that approximately 1.2 million people in Kenya will require immediate food assistance lasting for the next three to six months. The information contained in this report has been compiled by OCHA from information received from the field, from national and international humanitarian partners and from other official sources. It does not represent a position from the United Nations. This report is posted on: http://ochaonline.un.org/kenya I. General Overview After Amos Kimunya stepped aside as Finance Minister due to allegations of his involvement in the alleged corrupt sale of a public asset, the Grand Regency Hotel, the President appointed Environment Minister, John Michuki as acting Finance Minister. Michuki had served as chairman of the state-funded Kenya Commercial Bank, which is also under investigation related to the sale of the Hotel. The Waki Commission, on the post-election violence (PEV) heard testimony from the Security sector and advocates during public hearings. The Independent Medico Legal Unit testified that 43% of the victims of the PEV had died of bullet wounds, suggesting concern over the force used by police and the military. The Police Commissioner Major-General Husein Ali denied allegations that the police perpetrated violent acts during the PEV, and the Chief of the General Staff denied allegations that the military used excessive force. Meanwhile, amid allegations that there have been extra-judicial detentions of youth associated with the PEV, the Prison Commandant reported that 300 suspects remain in prison and all are awaiting prosecution. (For the full report from the Independent Medico-Legal Unit see: http://www.imlu.org) Meanwhile, the results of an exit poll, financed by the International Republic Institute, released on 8 July reported that ODM candidate Riala Odinga received 46.07% of the vote in the Presidential Election and PNU candidate Moi Kibaki received 40.18%. Official results gave Kibaki 46.42% and Odinga 44.07%. The researchers noted that the results cannot prove that the elections were fraudulent; however, they said that the results highlighted discrepancies which suggest that there may have been an addition or subtraction of votes during the vote tallying process. (For IRI’s full Election Observation Report Source: KRCS, June 2007. Man displaced in the Mount Elgon region, following the conflict involving the SLDF, Government see: www.iri.org) and community. For more information on the current situation in Mount Elgon, see page 3. Media reported that the World Bank outlined several steps to help achieve higher economic growth in Kenya. Specifically, it was reported that Kenya’s leadership needs to reduce political risks, eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, increase access to credit and mobilize resources if the country is to achieve middle-income status, which is the objective of the Government Vision 2030. The Economic Secretary at the Ministry of Finance reportedly echoed these recommendations and noted that the rates of investment and savings need to be increased from their current 15% to 32% to achieve the targeted growth. II. Humanitarian Situation Food Security FEWS NET reported that below-average agriculture production is expected during July and August, due to a 25% reduction in area cultivated as a result of the PEV and high input prices. Maize is the main crop cultivated in Kenya, which is planted in April/May and contributes to 80% of the food production. The Climate Predication and Applications Centre is projecting that rains will be near-normal to below-normal between June-August in the breadbasket areas. Pastoral conditions remain a serious concern for food security in north-western Kenya. According to FEWS NET, below normal rainfall between March-May has degraded animal health, prompted earlier than normal migrations, and reduced livestock prices and pastoralists’ incomes. The continued presence of Pestes des Petit Ruminants (PPR) in 16 pastoralist districts continues to disrupt livestock trade and pastoral incomes. The disease was first detected in 2006 and has infected over 1.5 million sheep and FEWSNET, East Africa Regional Food Security goat. It is estimated by the Ministry of Livestock and Update, June 2008. Fisheries Development that over 4.7 million kgs of meat and over 8.2 million litres of milk are lost annually due to the disease. Kenya continues to be affected by increased food prices. FEWS NET notes that in Nairobi, the price of white maize increased by 10% in the last month. In Kisumu, prices have increased even more sharply, at 33% over the last month. FEWS NET projected that approximately 1.2 million people in Kenya will require immediate humanitarian assistance lasting for the next three to six months. WFP reports that they have received USD 402 million in funding and are in the process of purchasing maize from South Africa to help alleviate current pipeline shortages; the shipment is expected to arrive in mid-August. Meanwhile, the Government of Kenya has released 3,500 bags of maize; 900 bags of beans; and 200 cartons of vegetable oil in July for food assistance. The Government also released 1,152 MTs of maize to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) for distribution to drought-affected populations in Baringo Central, Baringo North and East Pokot Districts. (For the complete FEWSNET report see: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2008.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SKAI-7GFQ6K full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf) Health Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) was reported on 24 June in Gilgil division, Naivasha district. By 27 June there were 36 admitted cases in the Government hospital, the majority of whom were children. The Nakuru Government hospital reportedly has adequate antibiotics and rehydration supplies; however, the hospital faces constraints due to water shortages in the town. Two deaths 2 have been reported at homes. The source of the outbreak is believed to be the Kasambara and Mbaruk Rivers, which are used for cleaning, watering farm animals and drinking. The situation is reportedly stabilizing and there have been no new cases since 27 June. Meanwhile, IRIN reported that Kenya's Ministry of Health is finalising policy documents designed to ensure that 90 percent of households have access to, and make use of, hygienic, affordable, functional and sustainable toilet and hand-washing facilities, given that poor hygiene can spread bacteria that cause AWD. Mount Elgon Peace-net reported that the third phase of the registration of IDPs in Mt Elgon district is underway, and KRCS noted that so far 5,000 displaced persons have been recorded by the Government. However, Peace-net noted that registration processes had had sparked violet conflict between the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) militia, the Government and residents in the past as communities disagreed over who could lay claim to the land. According to Peace-net, residents fear that if the registration process is not conducted carefully, violence could again erupt in the region. Meanwhile the new SLDF leader has announced that he will stage new attacks against police stations to defend the land of the community members, noting that the militia name had changed to the Sabaot Peoples Patriotic Army (SPPA) which claims to defend rightful ownership of the land. Peace-net reported that the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO) organization held three peace- building meetings in Kaptama Division, Mount Elgon between 9-11 July in an effort to mitigate conflict related to the registration process. The meetings targeted women leaders in Kaboiywo, Kaptama, Chemogen and Kongit locations in Kaptama Division. According to the KRCS, unusual peace has returned to some areas. Five sites for returning IDPs have been established in Kipsigon, Kubura, Kikai, Chepkube and Bible Translation College in Kopsiro, Mt Elgon District to host hundreds of people returning to the area since the end of three years of clashes, which had displaced over 45,000 people. Peace-Net reported there are 200 displaced households staying at the Kapirow primary school in Kopsiro Division, and more IDPs at the Kebee and Kubura areas within the division in Mount Elgon district. They reportedly have few resources and require food assistance, shelter and other basic service in addition to assistance for reconstructing houses. Meanwhile authorities began discouraging people from remaining in the mountain community of Kheborweni. There have been media and other reports that the shelters of families living in Kheborweni were burned between 11-14 July in order to force their relocation. One agency reported that 2,210 families were displaced to Chibowwenyi, Torbo and Stend, Mount Elgon District. Security UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) reported that hate leaflets were circulated in Kericho district, warning some returnees against returning to work in tea factories. Meanwhile, government officials touring Molo district received reports that areas remained tense and that new cases of cattle rusting had emerged between communities. Two missionaries from Canada and America were attacked in Kitale town on 9 July; both suffered severe injuries and investigations into the crime are ongoing. They were reportedly assisting IDPs, specifically widows and orphans. Population Movements and Displacement Trends The KRCS reported that there were 59,666 IDPs in 89 IDP camps as of 8 July. Various assessments, including interagency assessments and reports by the WASH cluster have recorded a total of 98,223 IDPs in 132 transit sites. (A map of many of the transit sites can be found online at: http://ochaonline.un.org/kenya/). The Government reported that approximately 221,231 IDPs 3 had returned to pre-displacement areas since the beginning of the returns operation as of 20 July; however, the Government figures noted that there were only 21,797 IDPs remaining in IDP camps.
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