Water in Kenya
Agriculture is the main user of water in Kenya, a country recognised as being water scare in that water demand exceeds renewable freshwater sources. The impact of climate change continues to stretch the national capacity to respond to both water shortages and extreme flooding.
Water demand in Kenya is expected to meet 5.8 cub. km per year by 2010. Water resource development is therefore essential in mitigating the humanitarian consequences of climate change and conflict. The shift from government-funded to community-driven development in recent years is a capability far beyond the capacity of many socially disadvantaged communities.
The 2009 / 2010 short rains have improved food security in many drought-stricken communities, with hopes that the anticipated long rains in early April will improve the situation further still. In some communities, however, heavier than normal rains induced a multitude of short-term negative consequences including displacement, economic disruption and the spread of disease.
Source: FAO / OCHA Kenya
Documents:
Drought Stages July 2009 – Feb 2010
Food Security Update Feb. 2010