Kajiado District
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LAIKIPIA DISTRICT SHORT RAINS ASSESSMENT REPORT 18th to 22nd February 2008 Laikipia District: Livelihood zones Assessment Team William Maritim Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Rose Ngure Ministry of Water and Irrigation Ikeny Kapua World Food Programme Laikipia District Steering Group MembersWilliam Martim TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background Information ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 History of relief operations in the District ................................................................ 1 2 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION .................................................................. 1 2.1 Overall Food Security Situation................................................................................ 1 2.2 Impact of Shocks and Hazards on Food Security ..................................................... 2 2.2.1 Rainfall.............................................................................................................. 2 2.2.2 Crop Production and Prices............................................................................... 3 2.2.3 Livestock production and prices ....................................................................... 5 2.2.4 Water and Sanitation ......................................................................................... 7 2.2.5 Health and Nutrition.......................................................................................... 8 2.2.6 Education......................................................................................................... 11 2.2.7 Population movements and migration............................................................. 13 2.2.8 Food security prognosis .................................................................................. 13 2.2.9 Divisional Food Security Ranking .................................................................. 13 3 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 13 3.1 Monitoring required ................................................................................................ 13 3.2 Food Aid interventions required ............................................................................. 14 3.2.1 Agriculture ...................................................................................................... 14 3.2.2 Livestock recommendations............................................................................ 14 3.2.3 Water and Sanitation ....................................................................................... 15 3.2.4 Health and Nutrition........................................................................................ 17 3.2.5 Education......................................................................................................... 19 Disclaimer: The recommendations of the Assessment Team are tentative and subject to approval by Kenya Food Security Steering ii Group (KFSSG) 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information The assessment covered the larger Laikipia District, comprising of Laikipia East, Laikipia West and Laikipia North Districts. It borders Samburu district to the North, Isiolo to the North-East, Meru Central to the South, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Nakuru districts to the South- West and Baringo and Koibatek districts to the West. The district occupies an area of 9,693 km2 and has seven divisions namely Central and Lamuria (Laikipia East), Mukogodo (Laikipia North) and Rumuruti, Nyahururu, Ol Moran and Ngarua (Laikipia West). The total population is estimated at 418,118 people with an average population density of 53 people per km2. The district experiences largely a bimodal rainfall pattern with the long rain season occurring between March and May and the short rain season between October and November. The predominant form of rainfall experienced is the relief type with annual rainfall averaging between 400mm in the plains of Laikipia East and 1000mm in high potential parts of Laikipia West. Variance in rainfall amounts and distribution give rise to the difference in the district’s livelihood patterns. Overall, Laikipia district has five livelihood zones (pastoral, mixed farming, marginal agricultural, ranching and urban). About 30 commercial ranches are found in Laikipia district constituting 52% of land mass. These Ranches are not available for food production for the district’s population, save for remittances paid out to those employed mainly as herders. 1.2 History of relief operations in the District The government placed parts of Laikipia district under Emergency Operation (EMOP) in the period from March 2006 to March 2007 due to poor rainfall performance in both long and short rain seasons and the ensuing severe drought in 2005. After short rains assessment of 2006, it was found out that the food security situation had improved leading to the district being phased out of the emergency operation. During the year, a total of 67,363 people (17% of the total district population) received food aid per month in five divisions- Central, Lamuria, Mukogondo, Rumuruti and Ol Moran. Approximately 4060.6MT of food was provided by World Food Programme, Government of Kenya, Caritas Nyeri and Kenya Red Cross and distributed by Caritas Nyeri under the supervision of the District Steering Group. School Feeding Programme are implemented in all public primary schools in Mukogondo and parts of Central Divisions. 2 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION 2.1 Overall Food Security Situation Based on the factors listed in section 1.3 above, the district can be rated as food secure, with low resilience. The worst affected areas are the pastoral and marginal mixed farming zones. Livestock body condition is good though in declining trend due to deterioration in availability and access to water, pasture and browse. Pastoralists rely on food commodities from farming community in the district and from outside the district. These are accessed in markets where the pastoralists sell off their livestock and in turn buy food, all on fortnight cycles. Due to tension caused by post- election violence elsewhere in the country, the markets have operated far below the normal capacity, Disclaimer: The recommendations of the Assessment Team are tentative and subject to approval by Kenya Food Security Steering 1 Group (KFSSG) with very few traders coming to the markets. This has affected them as they cannot access food and market for their livestock. In Kimanju for instance, the market recorded sales of only 200 goats and no cattle in the first week of February, compared to 1000 goats and 300 cattle under normal market days. Prices of maize and beans doubled in that week. Although security in the district is generally good, tension is high in Rumuruti and Ol Moran divisions with the fear of attack by Pokots. By the time this report was compiled several people had been reported to have lost their lives to these skirmishes (Nation Newspaper, 22/2/08). It was noted that some households have sold their maize stocks for fear of arson and livestock from Thome sub location have been moved to Nyandarua and Thika districts to avoid being stolen (Ad hoc interviews). Factors affecting Food Security Poor distribution of the short rains especially in the pastoral and marginal mixed farming areas in Lamuria and Central Divisions. Socio-political induced tension inhibiting free access to livestock markets in Mukogondo, Rumuruti and Ol Moran divisions. Human-livestock-wildlife conflicts, leading to competition for the scarce resources and destruction of crops especially by elephants. Threat of spread of PPR (Peste des petit ruminants) from Samburu district where the disease has been confirmed in Wamba division. Outbreak of other livestock diseases such as rabies and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Ol moran. Insecurity caused by cattle rustling in Ol moran and Rumuruti divisions Household food access and availability About 60% of households have food stocks from the bumper harvest as a result of 2007 long rains. Milk availability is on the decline as pastures and browse are drying up. Pastoralists rely on markets for food purchases. The evident deterioration of pasture condition in Mukogondo is affecting livestock productivity and the low activity in the livestock markets erodes pastoralist resilience as regards to food security. Current ongoing hazards and shocks Insecurity/ cattle rustling in Ol moran and parts of Rumuruti divisions. Wildlife menace: crops and infrastructural damage. Dry spell if it continues may delay planting, depletion of water resources and pasture. There is looming tension due to the current political situation in the country. It is notable that influx of IDPs (15,000 people currently with host families) may require attention and monitoring as this may stretch the humanitarian assistance in the district, especially in Nyahururu, Lamuria and Central divisions. 2.2 Impact of Shocks and Hazards on Food Security 2.3 Rainfall Food crop production mainly depends on the long rains that were sufficient for maize production in Ngarua, Nyahururu, Lower Rumuruti and parts of Ol Moran and Central divisions. Beans performed poorly due to the heavy rains, but vegetables and other short term crops performed fairly. Short rains were lower than normal (Fig.1). Disclaimer: The recommendations of the