In the dry-land regions of Kenya, agriculture and livestock breeding remain the main sources of livelihood. Limited surface and sub-surface water sources coupled with erratic rainfall patterns required to sustain the livelihoods is often a source of competition and conflict among the rural communities. Furthermore, there is inadequacy of information about food supply chains and limited access to markets for those who may opt to buy and sell. Over time, these factors have contributed to increased water and food insecurity in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. Developing sustainable strategies for addressing the eminent food and water insecurity in such regions will require application of scientific methods that appreciate the complexity of the existing environmentalvshuman conditions. We will pilot a study that seeks to combine methods using remote sensing data sources, hydrological modeling approaches and socio-economic assessment techniques to assess the security of water and food, as a function of environmental change effects in Kajiado county of Kenya. The methods and output from this work will be replicable and intend to address key scientific questions on the potential predictors of food and water security in dryland areas, while contribute towards developing sustainable policy for integrated water use that caters for the needs of both crop and livestock producers in such areas.
Researchers
Dr. Francis Oloo (Technical University of Kenya)
Mr. Sospeter Wekesa (Technical University of Kenya)
Dr. Luke Olang (Technical University of Kenya)
Dr. Wesley Kirui (Kenyatta University, Kenya)
Ms. Purity Kiunga (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya)
Mr. Steve Omondi (Regional Center of Mapping of Resources for Development-RCMRD, Kenya)