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Kenya

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Food Security Outlook
February - September 2024
Upcoming long rains are expected to further support drought recovery
  • In the pastoral areas, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) area-level outcomes are ongoing as households recover from the historic drought and subsequent flooding in late 2023. Forage and water resources have significantly improved following the above-average 2023 October to December short rains, supporting the recovery of livestock production. Livestock sale values are above average, and household income and food access are improving, but milk production remains below average as livestock gradually recover. The forecast of above-average March to May 2024 long rains will drive further improvements as livestock birth rates increase and good livestock body conditions provide milk for sale, consumption, and income from livestock sales. Increased income will improve food access and reduce household reliance on coping strategies, supporting area-level Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through at least September.
  • In the marginal agricultural areas, Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes persist as the above average short rains harvests improved household food availability and income. Further improvements are expected in March as the near-average to above-average long rains support crop production activities that will provide income from agricultural wage labor opportunities through May. Increased household income and availability of household food stocks are expected to support households' access to food, but the high cost of living and need to repay past debts will likely hinder non-food purchases, maintaining Stressed (IPC Phase 2) area-level outcomes. 
  • The recently concluded Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) 2023 Short Rains Assessment findings indicate household access to food and income is improving following the historic drought and flooding in late 2023. The number of children aged 6 to 59 months facing the risk of acute malnutrition is declining but remains high, particularly in arid counties due to the lingering cumulative effects of the five previous consecutive failed seasons, poor child feeding practices, and high disease burden, among others. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes remain in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Samburu, and Garissa due to low herd sizes, high food prices, destruction from flooding, and limited access to income. However, household access to food and income is expected to improve with the short rains harvest and the upcoming March to May long rains. 
  • National crop production in 2023 was 15 to 20 percent higher than the five-year average for maize, boosted by significantly above-average short rains, while nationally, the bean harvest was average due to waterlogging from the above-average rainfall in late 2023. Crop production in the arid and semi-arid lands was mixed with the pastoral areas, registering below-average production of maize and cowpeas. However, in the marginal agricultural areas, maize, sorghum, cowpeas, and green grams production was 16 to 68 percent above average, driven by above-average rainfall and available subsidized fertilizers. 
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Latest Analysis Latest Analysis
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Food Security
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Agroclimatology
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Price Bulletin Kenya Price Bulletin Kenya February 2024
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Alerts / Special Reports
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Food Security
Key Message Update Household access to food and income is expected to improve through at least May 2024 Kenya January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update El Niño enhanced rains support recovery despite flooding and high food prices Kenya December 2023
Key Message Update Flooding and high staple food prices are constraining drought recovery in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas Kenya November 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Kenya Price Bulletin Kenya February 2024
Price Bulletin Kenya Price Bulletin Kenya January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa January 2024
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Classification Data View all Kenya classification data
Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification (February 2024 - September 2024)

Current (February 2024) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (February 2024 - May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile February 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification February 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: February 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: February 2024 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification (January 2024 - May 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile January 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification January 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification (December 2023 - May 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (December 2023 - January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile December 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification December 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: December 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: December 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar
Description

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.

Kenya Seasonal Calendar
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Beans, Season 1 Beans, Season 2 Maize, Season 1 Maize, Season 2
Remote Sensing Imagery Remote Sensing Imagery
Description

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all remote sensing imagery
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Kenya Livelihood Zone Descriptions, March 2011 Kenya Livelihood Zones Map
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