NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 13 – The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) December outlook forecasts depressed rainfall in most Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Counties.
According to the report, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Meru, Kitui, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kajiado counties are forecasted to received depressed rainfall.
Parts of Pastoral North East, including Mandera and parts of Wajir and northern eastern parts of Marsabit are forecasted to receive near average to below rainfall during the month of December.
“Parts of agropastoral clusters including southern parts of west Pokot and western parts of Baringo counties are forecasted to receive near average to below rainfall during the month of December,” NDMA said in its National Drought Early Warning Bulletin for December.
According to NDMA Generally, the current body condition of most livestock is below normal in comparison to similar periods during a normal year.
“Consequently, most counties reported livestock body condition as fair to poor conditions with exception of Taita Taveta County which reported good body condition for cattle,” NDMA said.
In regards to the ongoing drought situation, NDMA stated that the drought situation remained critical in 20 of the 23 ASAL counties during the month of November 2022.
The reported rains in pocket areas of the ASALs are yet to reverse the current drought situation.
However, NDMA says the situation may slightly improve especially on environmental indicators.
The impact of sustained drought situation has seen the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance stand at 4.35 million.
Risks of Acute malnutrition continue to be reported in ASAL counties where 942,000 cases of children aged 6-59 months and 134,000 cases of pregnant or lactating women acutely malnourished continue to access treatment.
