article · The International Journal of Climate Change Impacts and Responses
Agriculture sustains approximately three-quarters of Kenya's population and meets nearly all domestic food requirements. However, rain-fed agricultural systems remain exceptionally vulnerable to drought, particularly across the arid and semi-arid lands that comprise roughly 88 percent of the country. Over the past century, Kenya has experienced 28 droughts, with their frequency and intensity escalating over time. These climatic shocks have caused extensive crop failures and livestock mortality, precipitating acute food deficits across vulnerable districts. Between 1993 and 2010, five out of seven national disaster declarations stemmed directly from drought crises, necessitating international emergency food assistance. Consequently, 28 arid and semi-arid districts were placed under emergency relief operations. These drought-induced disruptions demonstrate acute challenges to regional food security, as highlighted in the Central and Mukogodo divisions of Laikipia District.
With almost 88 percent of Kenya classified as arid or semi-arid, worsening drought patterns directly threaten food production and rural livelihoods. Recognising how recurring drought drives disaster declarations and emergency aid requests is essential for humanitarian agencies, regional planners and policymakers working to safeguard vulnerable farming and pastoral communities against mounting climate shocks.
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Agriculture supports up to 75% of the Kenyan population and generates almost all the country’s food requirements. However drought are the major constraints to rain-fed agricultural production, especially in arid and semi arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya which form about 88% of the country. In the last 100 years, Kenya has recorded 28 droughts, three of them in the last decade. The frequency and severity of droughts seems to be increasing in the country over time. The result has been total crop failures and livestock deaths triggering severe food shortages in the country and more specifically in ASAL districts. Between 1993 to date, the government of Kenya has declared 7 national disasters out of which 5 were drought related. These declarations followed the droughts of 1992-93, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2005-06 and 2008-09 when the Kenya government requested international communities for food aid. About 28 ASAL districts in Kenya have been placed under Emergency Operation Programme (EMOP) due to the heightening food insecurity caused by droughts. This paper highlights the effects of drought on food security in Kenya with special reference to Central and Mukogodo Divisions of the semi arid areas of Laikipia District, Kenya.
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DOI: 10.18848/1835-7156/cgp/v02i02/37312
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