Drought extends Kenya's food insecurity

The Kenya Food Security Steering Group – a consortium of Kenyan government officials, UN agencies, foreign aid officials, and NGOs – stated in a new report that the food security of 2.5 million Kenyans is threatened by an extended drought period in certain parts of the country.  There are also more than 7 million Kenyans who must compete for a smaller food supply because of the high prices brought on by last year’s global food crisis and post-election unrest.

The report also cited how Kenyans with HIV/AIDS face added challenges to food security and health:

“[The h]ousehold’s ability to produce and buy food is compromised due reduced labor that would otherwise be engaged in agricultural production or in earning an income. In addition, HIV disease increases health expenditure. Therefore, the household capacity to obtain an adequate amount and variety of food, and to adopt appropriate health and nutritional responses to HIV/AIDs, especially for the already vulnerable ones, is grossly reduced.”

The Kenya Food Security Steering Group made several recommendations to confront the immediate food shortages and to create conditions for long-term food security.