Kajiado County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for September 2018

Drought Situation & EW Phase Classification

Biophysical Indicators

• Vegetation greenness was far above normal for similar period of the year.

• Pasture, browse and water situations remain above the long-term average since April. Southern pastoral zone is water stressed. Production Indicators

• Livestock body condition was good and stable for all species.

• Household daily milk production was still below the long-term average due to low livestock tropical unit and low calving rate.

• No livestock migration since April as pasture and browse was available.

Access indicators

• The terms of trade was above the long term average and expected to remain so for the next two months.

• Milk consumption was below the long-term average for similar period of the year due to low production.

• Distances to water sources from homestead and grazing fields were shorter than the long-term averages.

Utilization Indicators

• Households used minimal coping strategy mainly by consuming less preferred food in September. Most of them were in acceptable food consumption score category.

• Nutritional status of under-fives improved resulting into reduction of those at risk of malnutrition to below the long-term average.