INFO  LOG-00   COR-00   EEB-00   AF-00    AGRE-00  AMAD-00  CA-00    
      CIAE-00  INL-00   DNI-00   DODE-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EUR-00   
      UTED-00  VCI-00   FDRE-01  H-00     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    
      LAB-01   MOFM-00  MOF-00   VCIE-00  DCP-00   NSAE-00  OIC-00   
      NIMA-00  EPAU-00  PA-00    MCC-00   PER-00   GIWI-00  SGAC-00  
      SP-00    IRM-00   TRSE-00  EVR-00   FMP-00   CBP-00   EPAE-00  
      SCRS-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-00   NFAT-00  SAS-00   DTT-00   
      FA-00    SWCI-00  PESU-00    /002W
   
R 010802Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1201
INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 
AMEMBASSY ASMARA 
AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION USUN ROME IT
USMISSION GENEVA 
NSC WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002081 
 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA FOR PMORRIS; ACONVERY; KCHANNELL; MBEERS; 
APIYAKA DCHA/FFP JBORNS; JDWORKEN; SANTHONY; CMUTAMBA; 
DNELSON; 
USUN FOR DMERCADO 
ROME FOR HSPANOS 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU JADDLETON; PBROWN 
NSC FOR CPRATT 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL PREF KE
SUBJECT: KENYA FY 2010 DISASTER REDECLARATION. 
 
CORRECTED COPY 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  An estimated 3.8 million drought-affected 
individuals require emergency food assistance in Kenya, 
according to the joint Government of Kenya (GOK), U.N., 
and non-governmental organization (NGO) Kenya Food 
Security Steering Group (KFSSG).  The poor performance 
of the February to June long rains, high staple food 
prices, localized conflict, and preceding seasons of 
below-normal rainfall have exacerbated existing chronic 
poverty conditions and resulted in deteriorated 
livestock conditions, significantly disrupting 
pastoralist livelihoods and contributing to increased 
food insecurity and malnutrition in affected areas. 
Humanitarian organizations are also expecting enhanced 
rains associated with El Nino conditions during the 
upcoming October to December short rains season to 
result in flooding, reduced access, and increased 
incidences of human and livestock water-related 
diseases.   The current humanitarian emergency exceeds 
the capacity of GOK; the GOK will accept assistance 
from the U.S. Government (USG); and it is in the 
interest of the USG to provide humanitarian assistance. 
U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger therefore re- 
declares a disaster for the complex emergency in Kenya 
and requests the continued provision of USG disaster 
assistance to respond in fiscal year (FY) 2010.  End 
summary. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2.  According to the KFSSG, an estimated 3.8 million 
drought-affected individuals require emergency food 
assistance throughout arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) 
of northern Kenya and southeastern and coastal 
lowlands, including Rift Valley, Eastern, Northeastern, 
and Coast provinces.  In addition, the KFSSG has 
identified approximately 2.5 million chronically food 
insecure individuals located in urban areas, 100,000 
persons displaced by post-election violence, 1.5 
million drought-affected primary school students, and 2 
million rural HIV/AIDS patients as food insecure 
countrywide and in need of humanitarian assistance. 
 
¶3.  In addition, limited GOK emergency response 
capacity for industrial accidents, fires, and 
infrastructure collapse frequently undermine effective 
GOK planning, assessment, and response and increase 
population risks. 
 
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Agriculture and Food Security 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Due to decreased crop production and limited water 
and pasture regeneration during the long rains, 
humanitarian agencies expect food insecurity to persist 
or increase for pastoralists until the onset of the 
October to December 2009 short rains and until the 
subsequent February 2010 harvest for farmers. 
According to KFSSG, the 2009 long rains performed 
poorly in most areas of the country, with four of the 
eight provinces of Kenya experiencing less than 40 
percent of average rainfall for the season.  As a 
result of poor or failed rains, KFSSG anticipates a 
2009 long rain season maize harvest 28 percent below 
the five-year average. 
 
¶5.  In pastoral areas, drought conditions have also 
resulted in deteriorating livestock body conditions, 
increased incidence and risk of livestock disease, and 
early and extended livestock migration patterns. 
According to KFSSG, average staple food prices remain 
significantly above normal price levels throughout 
Kenya, exacerbating food insecurity and resulting in 
deteriorating terms of trade, particularly among 
pastoral, agro-pastoral, and marginal agricultural 
populations.  In August, KFSSG reported maize prices 
100 to 130 percent higher than normal levels.  At the 
same time, relief agencies report livestock prices 30 
to 50 percent below normal due to poor animal 
conditions and livestock migration. 
 
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Health and Nutrition 
-------------------- 
 
¶6.  Limited health care system capacity and highly 
mobile populations have contributed to disease outbreaks 
throughout Kenya, including cholera and the re- 
emergence of polio following 25 years of polio-free 
status, negatively affecting populations already 
vulnerable due to increased food insecurity and 
malnutrition.  According to the U.N., recent disease 
outbreaks have occurred in the context of an overall 
decline in health indicators following the 2008 post- 
election violence.  In late June, the U.N. reported 
that vaccination coverage had decreased from 77 percent 
prior to the outbreak of the 2008 violence to 66 
percent, while disease surveillance capacity had 
declined from an estimated 74 to 35 percent. 
 
¶7.  Recent findings from USAID partner and U.N. 
Children?s Fund (UNICEF) assessments indicate critical 
and deteriorating nutrition conditions throughout the 
country, including in areas not previously experiencing 
significant global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates.  In 
June, UNICEF reported approximately 250,000 children 
under five years of age as moderately malnourished, 
including more than 39,000 severely malnourished 
children countrywide.  According to UNICEF, acute 
malnutrition affects approximately one in five children 
in drought-affected Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, and 
Samburu districts in Rift Valley Province. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Insecurity and Population Movements 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  Relief agencies continue to report concerns 
regarding increased inter-ethnic fighting and resource- 
related conflicts, particularly in West Pokot and Turkana 
districts, Rift Valley Province, and Isiolo District, 
Eastern Province.  According to the U.N. Office for the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), violence 
in pastoral areas killed 242 people between January 1 
and August 21, an increase from the 222 reported deaths 
during the same time period in 2008.  Increased 
incidence of livestock theft and inter-ethnic conflict 
have also resulted in displacement and depleted 
livelihood assets. 
 
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Potential Flooding 
------------------ 
 
¶9.  El Nino conditions are expected to result in normal 
to above-normal rainfall during the upcoming September 
to December short rains season, according to the Kenya 
Meteorological Department.  The USAID-supported Famine 
Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) cautions that 
heavy rains are likely to result in increased livestock 
mortality among weakened animals in drought-affected 
areas, flooding, infrastructure damage, reduced 
humanitarian and commercial access, and increased 
incidents in human and livestock water-related 
diseases, such as malaria, diarrheal disease, and Rift 
Valley Fever (RVF). 
 
---------------------- 
DISASTER RE-DECLARATION 
---------------------- 
 
¶10.  In FY 2009, USAID/DCHA provided nearly USD 160 
million in humanitarian assistance to Kenya, including 
more than USD 135 million in USAID Office of Food for 
Peace (USAID/FFP) food assistance.  In addition, 
USAID/OFDA assistance totaled more than USD 24 million 
in support of nutrition, economic recovery and market 
systems, agriculture and food security, and water, 
sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as local 
procurement and distribution of food targeting 
vulnerable populations in ASAL and marginal 
agricultural areas. 
 
¶11.  As a result of current and projected humanitarian 
needs resulting from the cumulative impact of 
consecutive seasons of failed or poor rainfall, 
localized conflict, and high food prices on increased 
food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable 
populations and potential flooding and associated 
disease outbreaks, I re-declare a disaster for the 
complex emergency in Kenya in FY 2010.  It is beyond 
the ability of the GOK to fully address increased 
humanitarian needs.  The GOK welcomes USG assistance 
and it is in the USG?s interest to assist affected 
populations and prevent a further deterioration in 
humanitarian conditions.  Therefore, I request USG 
humanitarian resources to address urgent humanitarian 
needs and reduce the risk of vulnerable populations in 
Kenya. 
 
RANNEBERGER