Ma

total of 235,000 MT commercial maize imports

UNICEF funds University of Nairobi to carry out

GoK & NGO relief distributions in

y

undertaken, but prices remain high  and rising as late

nutritional assessments in 10 drought affected districts

pastoral areas (Wajir, Isiolo & Garissa)

 97

harvest is expected, further eroding vulnerable

hampered by heavy rains making roads

households' access to food

impassable

last 3 weeks of May unusually dry and hot,

GoK relief distributions peak at

causing  crop stress in breadbasket areas and in

around 32,000 MT monthly, to 51 districts

marginal agricultural areas of Eastern Province

Jun 97

rains return in mid June , breaking 5 week dry

WFP commissioned SCF UK FEA assessment

GoK relief coverage reduced to 43

spell & improving prospects for fair harvest in main

of Wajir concludes food aid should continue, at

Districts, following long rains

surplus producing areas.

declining rate, until mid January

crop conditions remain unfavorable in the East

most pastoral districts benefit from favorable

pasture, browse & water

Jul

Favorable short term conditions in pastoral

duty waiver for imported maize extended

 up

 9

districts, but slow economic recovery and high

to August 31

7

malnutrition

WFP commissioned SCF UK FEA assessment

of Kitui District finds stopping relief distributions in

August would have no adverse impact

97

Au

maize harvesting starts, with mixed production

UNICEF/ University of Nairobi study finds

WFP requests support for 4 month

g

prospects. Overall fair harvest expected

significant malnutrition rates, highest in Samburu,

extension of drought EMOP 5803  in five

end of rains signalled by low August rainfall

Turkana & Kajiado

pastoral districts

GoK asks WFP for further relief food assistance

97

Se

maize price remains on an upward trend

GoK relief distribution coverage

p

despite large imports (375,000 MT during July &

further reduced to 28 districts (total

August)

allocation 5,220 MT for September)

Oct 97

long rains maize production estimates revised

WFP EMOP extension  approved

 up

downwards due to poor rainfall distribution, unusual

to Jan 15, 1998   total of 6,638 MT cereals

dry spell  in September, and frost in Central Province

required

terms of trade for pastoralists improve in most

pastoral Districts

maize prices fall in most markets

exceptionally heavy rain (associated with El

Nino

) occurs in most parts of the country during

October, especially eastern, northern and coastal

areas.  

Severe flooding

 reported in northern

(normally arid) pastoral areas & along coastal strip

No

heavy rain continues

   highest precipitation in

Joint Flood Assessment Mission

 to Tana

GoK allocates  14,130MT relief maize

v 9

normally arid east & north east. Tana & Daua Rivers

River & Garissa  by GoK / UNDP / WFP/ EC / USAID/

for November, for drought affected Eastern,

7

flood, causing loss of life and homes

CARE / Rural Focus Limited.

Rift Valley, Coast & North eastern Provinces

prices of all food commodities rise dramatically

GoK issues appeal for flood disaster

WFP/ NGOs implementing extended

in 

pastoral areas cut off from road access by

assistance

, for nearly 300,000 people in 9 Districts

EMOP in pastoral Districts

floods

(Nov 26)

relief operations in pastoral areas

long rains harvesting continues   but heavy

halted by breakdown in road

rain is expected to cause substantial losses

communications

maize prices fall in surplus areas, but are

expected to rise again soon

De

heavy rain continues

, declining after Dec 20

USAID Kenya estimates 

300,000 people are

WFP Flood EMOP 5969 starts:

c 9

renewed flooding especially in pastoral districts

displaced or adversely affected by rain & floods

 in

airlifts

 of food and drugs for 390,000 people

7

  livestock diseases increase

northern, eastern & coastal areas

in severely flood affected pastoral districts of

Rift Valley harvest nears completion   losses

Oxfam warns of anticipated rise in water borne

Wajir, Mandera & Tana River begin

due to high moisture reduce national long rains

human diseases

December 10 (joint GoK / NGO/ WFP).

harvest  estimate to 1.83m MT (68% of average)

Jan 98

total rainfall in January still well above normal

DPIRP & Oxfam report 40 50% losses of goat

nearly 2,000 MT of cereals, pulses,

levels, but latter half of month is relatively dry

& sheep flocks due to flood related diseases

oil, Unimix & drugs airlifted by end of

Garissa & Tana River districts remain largely

MoH issues countrywide malaria alert

January to flood affected Mandera, Wajir,

inaccessible by road, though other pastoral areas are

National Disaster Operations Centre (NOC)

Tana River, Garissa & Isiolo. Total target

now partially accessible

becomes operational

 (21 Jan)

population 446,000.

450 deaths reported in north & east due to Rift

WFP led flood assessment mission to Tana

Valley Fever, malaria, typhoid & cholera

River, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, and Isiolo

Feb 98

above normal rainfall re commences in  early

 WFP co ordinated 

flood EMOP

Feb, hampering harvesting & raising risk of crop

continues

losses

pasture, browse & water conditions favorable;

livestock diseases declining

Ma

rainfall in mid March signals a late onset of

UNICEF/ UNDP flood assessment

 of 7 worst 

road transport conditions improve  

r

long rains season, after an unusually brief dry spell

affected pastoral Districts finds high malnutrition rates,

74% of flood EMOP relief during March

 98

and exceptionally high livestock losses during Nov 

transported by road

Feb

2

nd

 phase of flood EMOP starts

(5969/01)    

target population now 539,600

Ap

rainfall distribution continues irregular   planting

total food aid distributed under flood

r 9

of long rains crops continues unusually late, disrupted

EMOP reaches 13,277 MT; extension to

8

by unseasonable Dec Feb rainfall

October proposed

food prices decline substantially in most

markets (except pastoral areas) due to short rains

harvest, destocking by millers, & expected imports

Ma

May rainfall normal to above normal in most

MSF/B &  DPIRP report exceptionally high child

GoK allocates 270 MT maize to

y

areas (up to 300% of normal in parts of Central

malnutrition in Samburu

Samburu, but poor targeting of general

 98

Kenya)

GoK issues 

2

nd

 appeal for flood emergency

rations is reported to be reducing the

flooding along the River Tana forces agro 

assistance

effectiveness of MSF Unimix distribution

pastoralists to replant for the third  time

maize prices continue to decline

Jun 98

cumulative precipitation during long rains

WFP needs assessment

 finds acute food

period (Mar Jun) normal to above normal, but

insecurity among pastoralists, signalled by high grain

temporal distribution poor

prices, unseasonable livestock sales, low purchasing

power, & high child malnutrition.  Extension of flood

EMOP considered essential to recovery

GoK again waives import duty on maize

98

Jul

WFP short term Food Security Adviser works

3

rd

 phase of WFP flood EMOP 5969

with NGOs to review targeting of flood relief (June /

approved,  targeting 587,480 people up to

July)

September 1998

Sources: FEWS Kenya reports, various documents and interviews

A 35