VZCZCXRO5469
PP RUEHRN
DE RUEHNR #1362/01 0851337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261337Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8509
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 0140
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 001362 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, WGARVELINK, LROGERS 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, 
KCHANNELL, MBRENNAN 
DCHA/FFP FOR WHAMMINK, JDWORKEN 
AFR/AFR/EA FOR JBORNS 
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM 
STATE/AF/E FOR NGARY 
STATE/F FOR ASISSON 
STATE/PRM FOR AWENDT, MMCKELVEY 
NSC FOR TSHORTLEY 
USUN FOR AMAHONEY 
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL KE
SUBJECT: DROUGHT RECOVERY ASSESSMENT ? MARSABIT 
DISTRICT 
 
SUMMARY 
 
¶1.  Following severe drought conditions in 2006, 
livestock, agriculture, nutrition, and livelihoods are 
improving in Marsabit District of northern Kenya.  A 
successful short rains season from October through 
December and coordinated relief efforts combined to 
boost early drought recovery of affected communities. 
While pastoralists require several cycles of successful 
rains to restore herd sizes to sustainable levels, 
livestock are beginning to rebound, and agro- 
pastoralists are benefiting from productive post-rain 
harvests.  For most areas of Marsabit District, the 
drought emergency has ended and early indicators point 
towards initial recovery in most sectors.  As a result, 
no additional emergency interventions are required at 
this time.  End summary. 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
¶2.  Successive periods of failed rains led to a severe 
food insecurity and livelihoods crisis in 2006, 
impacting nearly 3 million nomadic and agro- 
pastoralists throughout northern Kenya.  Heavy rainfall 
during the short October to December 2006 rains allowed 
for improved agricultural conditions, however, flooding 
temporarily delayed emergency drought recovery 
activities in many districts.  In addition, an outbreak 
of Rift Valley fever in northeastern Kenya, and the 
resulting ban on slaughtering animals, interrupted the 
livestock trade and stalled livelihood recovery in some 
of the worst-affected regions. 
 
¶3.  A USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance 
(OFDA) assessment team traveled to Marsabit District in 
northern Kenya from March 19 to 22 to evaluate drought 
recovery conditions.  The team met with relief 
agencies, Government of Kenya (GOK) officials, and 
affected communities to determine the current 
humanitarian situation, monitor ongoing recovery 
programs, and develop recommendations for future action 
as appropriate. 
 
EARLY STAGES OF RECOVERY 
 
¶4.  Most communities in Marsabit have begun to recover 
from emergency drought conditions following a strong 
short rains season and targeted assistance programs 
such as seed and food aid distributions and animal re- 
stocking.  Relief organizations report that the 
sufficient quantity and broad distribution of the short 
rains has led to general improvement in livestock 
conditions, strong production in staple crops, and a 
positive trend in animal and human health. 
Malnutrition appears to be limited to areas of chronic 
poverty, including North Horr and Loiyangalani 
divisions, according to GOK monthly assessments. 
 
¶5.  At the end of the current dry season, animal 
grazing pastures remain adequate and farmers are 
beginning to harvest post-rain crops of maize, millet, 
sorghum, beans, and cowpeas.  Communities indicated 
that there have been no significant disease outbreaks 
in either animals or humans since the short rains, and 
agro-pastoralists did not report problems with pests 
during the recent harvest.  There were no confirmed or 
suspected cases of Rift Valley fever in Marsabit 
District, and the GOK Arid Lands Resources Management 
Program indicated that livestock prices are beginning 
 
NAIROBI 00001362  002 OF 003 
 
 
to rise following a temporary decline related to the 
animal slaughter ban and fears of the nearby outbreak. 
 
¶6.  Requirements for complete drought recovery differ 
for agro-pastoralists versus pastoralist communities, 
due to the additional time required for herds to 
achieve sustainable levels through several breeding 
cycles.  While a successful post-short rains harvest 
can mean improved nutrition and income for farming 
communities within three to four months, nine and 
twelve month gestation cycles for cattle and camels 
mean delayed milk production and herd recovery. 
Following herd losses of 50 to 70 percent, several 
breeding cycles will be required for most herds to 
reach pre-drought levels. 
 
¶7.  The implication of this multiple-phase recovery for 
pastoralists is evident in the joint UN World Food 
Program and Kenyan Red Cross post-short rains food 
security assessment in February.  Red Cross officials 
reported preliminary recommendations for a 20 percent 
reduction in targeted Marsabit beneficiaries of food 
aid in March, from 80,000 to approximately 60,000. 
Despite recognizing strong early recovery across 
sectors and areas, the Red Cross noted that the limited 
reduction was due to the longer recovery period for 
pastoralists. 
 
COORDINATED RELIEF EFFORTS 
 
¶8.  The OFDA assessment team received multiple reports 
of successful coordination among non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) and GOK agencies conducting relief 
activities.  Regular coordination meetings in Nairobi 
and at the field level served to effectively prevent 
overlap in animal restocking, seed distribution, and 
animal vaccination programs.  However, one NGO noted 
that GOK restocking programs provided fewer sheep or 
goats per family than recommended minimums as outlined 
by the Ministry of Livestock, thereby delaying full 
herd recovery for some families. 
 
USAID EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
 
¶9.  In fiscal year 2006, OFDA provided more than $5.6 
million for emergency water and sanitation, and food 
security and agriculture drought recovery activities 
throughout Kenya, including more than $820,000 for 
emergency assistance in Marsabit District.  OFDA 
programs in Marsabit included animal vaccinations to 
help sustain drought-weakened herds, dam rehabilitation 
and rainwater catchment systems to reduce vulnerability 
during the dry seasons, and hygiene education to 
prevent the spread of water-born illnesses. 
 
¶10.  The NGO Living Waters is building 30 water 
catchment tanks and six dams for six pastoralist 
communities in northern Marsabit.  By working with 
local elders to identify suitable locations for the 
projects, the tanks and dams complement existing water 
facilities and provide safe drinking water during the 
dry seasons.  Each tank can hold 80,000 liters and 
sustain approximately 50 households for one month, 
while nearby boreholes will continue to be used for 
livestock. 
 
¶11.  The NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has 
excavated or rehabilitated six dams throughout 
Marsabit, which can provide up to five months of 
 
NAIROBI 00001362  003 OF 003 
 
 
drinking water for milk-producing livestock.  By 
restricting usage of the dams to limited animals from 
each household, local villages are effectively boosting 
community nutrition from regular milk consumption, and 
extending the duration of the water during drought 
seasons.  Non-milk producing animals are able to travel 
farther to additional year-round water points.  CRS has 
also constructed rainwater catchment systems and 
storage tanks for nine schools in Marsabit, which 
provide drinking and cooking water for students and 
teachers. 
 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
¶12.  OFDA supported drought interventions in Marsabit 
initiated in late 2006, including the rehabilitation of 
water pans and rain harvesting systems, have improved 
access to water and are benefiting residents and their 
livestock during the current dry season. 
 
¶13.  Following the recent assessment of humanitarian 
conditions and ongoing relief activities, the OFDA team 
concluded that no additional emergency interventions 
are currently required for Marsabit District.  However, 
the performance of upcoming rainy seasons and historic 
tension between tribes in the area have the potential 
to influence drought recovery for both nomadic and 
agro-pastoralists in the area. 
 
¶14.  Sporadic and low-intensity conflict, particularly 
between the Borana and Gabra tribes, often escalates 
during rainy periods when the different groups are more 
mobile and come into contact with greater frequency. 
While confrontations often arise when competing for 
water resources, OFDA noted several reports of 
increased tension related to political representation 
and upcoming elections.  Although violence between the 
tribes is infrequent, tensions do occasionally restrict 
grazing patterns and have the potential to negatively 
impact animal health and human livelihoods. 
 
¶15.  Relief agencies stated that more frequent de- 
silting of water points could minimize competition for 
water between different tribes during rainy seasons. 
In addition, a larger government presence along the 
Kenya-Ethiopia border would be beneficial in 
restricting cross-border movement and resulting 
skirmishes as Ethiopian pastoralists attempt to secure 
additional grazing areas in northern Kenya. 
 
¶16.  The Nairobi-based OFDA regional advisor will 
continue to monitor the situation and work with partner 
NGOs to identify emerging humanitarian issues. 
 
RANNEBERGER