Laikipia County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for January 2017

Biophysical Indicators

• Rainfall: January recorded very depressed precipitation levels across all parts of the County and across all livelihood zones. The recorded rainfall was below average compared to the long term. The rainfall was 59% of the normal in January (1 month anomaly). The rainfall distribution was poor in terms of time and space across all livelihood zones.
• Vegetation Condition: The Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI) was below the normal range, indicating a fair to poor state of pasture and browse condition across most areas. According to field observations, the pasture condition in MMF is fair to poor. The pasture condition in MF zones is fair while in Pastoral zones and some MMF zones the same is poor largely due to the poor regeneration coupled with overgrazing. The browse condition is largely fair across all livelihood zones.

Socio Economic Indicators (Impact Indicators)

• Production Indicators – Livestock migration patterns in the pastoral and some MMF zones are not normal for the time of the year. Milk production per household is within the normal range but has recorded a huge decline. No livestock deaths due to drought were reported. However, the body condition of animals below the normal range for the period and is fast deteriorating.
• Access indicators - The terms of trade are within the normal range. Milk consumption is also within the normal range. Utilization indicators - are within the normal range.
• The EW phase is Alert for the whole County.
• The effects of mild to moderate drought are being felt across the County. In view of the current situation, it is important to embark on drought mitigation and response activities across the Pastoral zone and parts of the MMF and MF zones.