Kitui County has been hit by a looming food shortage that may necessitate urgent aid in the coming days.
This is after crops failed to sprout following the erratic rainy season experienced between March and May.
A survey showed that 61,500 people from 11,182 households skipped a meal or two due to an inability to access food.
The number of people in Integrated Food Security Phase 2 was 246,000 (44,727 households) while those in IPC Phase 1 were 984,000 (178,909 households).
Around five to six people constitute a household in the county.
“The overall food security phase classification in the county is stressed,” says the 2024 Long Rains Food and Nutrition Security Assessment Report compiled by the Kitui County Steering Group.
“Most parts of the county, especially those in the marginal mixed farming livelihood zone experienced late rainfall onset, with the rain concentrated in April,” the report says.
The report said Kitui experienced showers lasting 30 to 40 days compared to 60 days and above in normal circumstances. Poor distribution and limited rainy days led to maize crop failure.
“Findings reveal that the county had erratic rains with poor temporal and uneven spatial distribution.”
The survey carried out in July said most areas in the marginal mixed farming livelihood zones realised crop failure due to inadequate rainy days.
Crop pests including caterpillars and beetles also attacked maize stocks and cowpeas, causing low yield.
“The current household food stocks would be depleted in a short time given the low boost from long rains since it is not the main season for maize production in the county,” the report added.
The assessment has further revealed that household food consumption in Kitui County dropped slightly in June.
It said the mean food consumption score decreased from 51 per cent in May to 49 per cent in June.
“The proportion of households under acceptable, borderline and poor food consumption score was 84, 16 and zero per cent respectively in June, compared to May which recorded 86, 14 and zero per cent for the respective categories,” the report adds.
It further says household food stocks are expected to deplete given that the rains in March, April and May did not bring good maize yield.
“For maize, rainfall ceased when the crop was in vegetative to tussling stage leading to moisture stress which resulted to poor grain filling in most parts of the county,” the report said.
The report adds that there was total crop failure for maiz planted late.
