Kenya

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Kenya
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Key Message Update
November 2023
Flooding and high staple food prices are constraining drought recovery in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas
  • The October to December short rains started on time across most of the country, with localized areas recording an effective start of the season 10 days early to 10 days later than normal. As of November 20, cumulative rainfall across much of the country is over 150 percent of the 40-year average, with rainfall over 300 percent of the 40-year average in Mandera, driven by prevailing El Niño conditions. Flooding has affected at least 19 of the country’s 47 counties, with Mombasa, Mandera, Tana River, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu, Wajir, and Marsabit the most affected counties. Estimates by humanitarian agencies indicate the widespread flooding has resulted in at least 50 human fatalities and displaced around 136,000 people. According to OCHA, humanitarian partners are working with the government to respond to the floods and have reached around 950,000 people in affected counties with food assistance. In the medium to long term, the impact of the floods will likely be mixed as households recover their livelihoods, replant crops, and livestock benefit from the atypically good rangeland resources. However, there is an increased risk of water and vector-borne diseases for humans and livestock. 
  • Staple food prices remain atypically high, driven by high demand, high fuel and marketing costs, and the depreciation of the KES. In October, maize prices ranged from average in Lamu to nearly 95 percent above the five-year average, with prices highest in Nithi, West Pokot, and Nyeri (Kieni). Dry bean prices are also elevated and around 15 to 80 percent higher than the five-year average in most areas, but prices are nearly 120 percent higher than the five-year average in the Mombasa and Eldoret markets due to lower-than-normal cross-border imports from Tanzania and Uganda and low local availability. In the pastoral areas, livestock prices are around 15 to 50 percent above the five-year average, with prices 75-90 percent higher than the five-year average in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa due to improving rangeland resources and livestock body conditions and lower supply as pastoral households seek to recover their herd sizes.
  • In the pastoral areas, poor households are slowly recovering from the impacts of the historic drought, with most households facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes. The above-average rainfall is improving water and forage resources, with most monitored water points higher than the long-term median. Pasture and forage conditions are also recovering with the above-average rainfall. However, vegetation conditions are below average in localized areas along Lake Turkana but are expected to improve through the rainy season. Livestock body conditions are improving and range from fair to good, with good to very good livestock conditions in Marsabit and Wajir. Milk production, an important source of food and income, is recovering and is largely similar to well above the three-year average in pastoral areas, but households in NDMA sentinel sites in Samburu are reporting an average of 0.1 liters per household per day due to low herd sizes. In the coming months, the positive impacts of the rains are expected to support area-level Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes; however, flood-impacted households that have lost assets will likely remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).
  • Across the marginal agricultural areas, households are earning near-average income from agricultural waged labor opportunities such as weeding and spraying, which, in addition to the good rains, is driving a slightly above-average area planted under food crops. The food crops are in good condition and at various developmental stages, ranging from knee-high in maize, sorghum, and millet to early flowering in beans and green grams. However, in areas that continue to receive heavy rainfall, such as Meru (Meru North) and Embu (Mbeere), the excess moisture is impeding the growth of legumes such as beans. Most households remain reliant on market purchases, but the unusually high staple food prices are limiting household purchasing power, driving widespread Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes.
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Food Security
Food Security Outlook El Niño-driven short rains expected to drive recovery from historic drought Kenya October 2023 - May 2024
Key Message Update Pastoral areas remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) as the pastoral lean season concludes Kenya September 2023
Food Security Outlook Update Drought recovery continues but high food prices impact household food access Kenya August 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Kenya Price Bulletin Kenya November 2023
Supply and Market Outlook East Africa Regional Maize Supply and Market Outlook East Africa November 29, 2023
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security
Food Security Outlook El Niño-driven short rains expected to drive recovery from historic drought Kenya October 2023 - May 2024
Key Message Update Pastoral areas remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) as the pastoral lean season concludes Kenya September 2023
Food Security Outlook Update Drought recovery continues but high food prices impact household food access Kenya August 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Kenya Price Bulletin Kenya November 2023
Supply and Market Outlook East Africa Regional Maize Supply and Market Outlook East Africa November 29, 2023
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Classification Data View all Kenya classification data
Kenya Acute Food Insecurity Classification (November 2023 - May 2024)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Kenya Livelihood Zone Descriptions, March 2011 Kenya Livelihood Zones Map
Kenya 2011 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
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