Food security concerns for coming months

After a prolonged delay, Kenya's much awaited long rain season has started, but its erratic pattern has raised food security concerns for the coming months. The rains, which have caused flooding in some areas, have been unusually low in most arable districts of Eastern, Central and Coast provinces, raising fears of drought. The Kenya meteorological department earlier this month indicated that this year's long rains were likely to be below normal in many parts of the country. Such an outcome would aggravate the already high levels of food insecurity among pastoralist communities in the traditionally arid areas of northwestern Kenya - namely Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, and Keiyo districts. In a joint report on the country's food vulnerability situation, the Kenyan government, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the US government's Famine Early Warning System Network, indicated that the supply of maize - the country's staple - would not meet national consumption needs, particularly between July and September. Maize prices had increased throughout the country, the report noted. "Subsequently, maize imports may become necessary," it said. "The magnitude of such imports will only be ascertained towards the beginning of May when the outcome of the long rain season becomes clear," the report said. But in parts of western Kenya, the rains now pounding the country have caused heavy flooding. At least 500 families have reportedly been displaced in the southwestern district of Nyando, adjacent to Lake Victoria and food is being distributed to those most affected.