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Kenya

Lamu County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for December 2014

Attachments

Drought Situation & EW Phase Classification

Biophysical Indicators

The percentage average rainfall to that of the long term average for December was 91.68 which was within the normal range. An average of 61.68 mm of rainfall was received in the month -The 3 month VCI for the County was 56.68. This was within the normal range for the County. For Lamu East Sub County which comprises of Fisheries and Mixed Farming Food/Cash livelihood Zone, it was 56.36 while in Lamu West Sub County which comprises of Mixed Cash/Food and Pastoral Livelihood it was 56.86. VCI was within normal range across most Livelihoods in the month of December.State of water sources was classified as 5 for the month of December which indicates that the condition was normal. The main sources of water for Lamu during the month of December were: - Shallow wells accounting for about 41.67%, followed by boreholes and Djabias at 16.67% each, Traditional River wells, Natural Rivers and Lakes were third and they accounted for 8.33% each.

Socio Economic Indicators (Impact Indicators)

-There were increased cases of livestock emigration to the neighboring Tana-River County in early November and December.
This was to seek for fresh pasture and to allow the regeneration of pasture in the grazing fields.

  • The general body condition for both cattle and goats was rated at score 5 which was moderate. The body condition for cattle and goats was fair in the Mixed Farming Livelihood Zone, between fair and good in the Pastoral and Fisheries and Mangrove Harvesting Livelihood Zones. The animal body condition has remained relatively stable, and the situation is expected to improve if the short rain performs well.

-Currently Drought risk is medium but the situation might improve if the short rain performs well however, Kiunga area is still water stressed and water project under preparedness activities are highly recommended in that area, that will build resilience and facilitate implementation of early drought mitigation/response.