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Drought Situation Overview
Twenty-one (21) ASAL counties were categorized under the ‘Normal’ phase based on the range of environmental, production, access and utilization indicators monitored that fell within their usual ranges as result of good performance of MAM 2024 rainfall season and just ended JJAS light seasonal rains in Pastoral North West counties. Normal drought phase is expected to continue. Moreover, the situation is projected to improve in coming months as we near onset of short rains, OND season. Monitoring of the population flagged out in February food security assessment, Short Rains Assessment (SRA) 2023, number of people in need of assistance stands at 1.0. million. Acute malnutrition has also improved been noted across the counties with the number of children 6 to 59 months requiring treatment for acute malnutrition having reduced from 847,932 (February 2024) to 760,488 reported in July 2024. In addition, the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women requiring treatment for acute malnutrition has reduced from 123,567 (February 2024) to 112,401 reported in July 2024.Figure 1.0 shows drought phase classification for the month of August 2024.
1.1 Observed drought indicators
1.1.1 August 2024 Rainfall Performance
August 2024 monthly rainfall analysis indicates that several parts of ASAL counties received low rainfall amounts. Pastoral North East counties including; Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Tana River, Garissa received between 2 – 50 mm of rainfall. Pastoral North West counties including; Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu continued to receive good amounts of rainfall ranging between 51mm – 200mm. This is attributed to the JJA rainfall season. The South East Marginal Agriculture counties including; Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kajiado, Meru, Makueni, Kitui counties received trace amounts of rainfall ranging between 2mm – 20mm. Agro Pastoral cluster including; Kajiado, Laikipia, Narok, Baringo, Nyeri and West Pokot received considerable good rainfall amounts ranging between 11mm – 50mm. The Coast Marginal Agriculture counties including; Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Lamu received trace rainfall ranging between 11- 50mm as shown figure 2.0.