AUGUST 2022 Overview The drought situation continued to worsen in twenty (20) of the 23 ASAL counties. This is attributed to the poor performance of the 2021 Long rains coupled with previous three failed consecutive seasons. The number of people in need of assistance is projected to increase to 4.35 million by October 2022 if the short rains season performs below average. Seven (7) counties namely; Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir, Laikipia and Marsabit are in Alarm drought phase while Thirteen (13) counties including Embu, Garissa, Kajiado, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Narok, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Kwale and Kilifi are in Alert drought phase. The remaining three (3) counties including Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu are in Normal drought phase. Acute malnutrition has also been noted across the counties with 884,464 cases of children aged 6-59 months acutely malnourished and 115,725 cases of pregnant or lactating women acutely malnourished and in need of treatment. Drought indicators July Rainfall Performance Several parts of ASALs remained relatively dry in July. Several parts of the ASALs counties experienced below-average rainfall (less than 75mm of rainfall). The Pastoral North East (PNE) counties including; Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Tana River and parts of Garissa received between 10mm to 25mm of rainfall totals. The South East Marginal Agriculture (SEMA) counties; Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kajiado, Meru, Makueni and Kitui counties received very little rainfall in the range ( 10mm - 50mm). The Coast Marginal Agriculture (CMA) counties received some off-season rainfall with parts of Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties receiving moderate to above normal rainfall. Lamu and northern Kilifi received between 51mm - Figure 1. July 2022 Rainfall performance 100mm of rainfall while some parts of Agro- pastoral cluster; Baringo and West Pokot received off-season rainfall that was moderate in the range of 76mm - 125mm of rainfall totals, with some areas receiving very high rainfall totals of 151mm. Rainfall Forecast for August 2022 The August 2022 weather outlook indicates that several parts of the Arid and Semi Arid Lands (95 percent) will be typically dry and sunny. The PNE counties including; Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa and Tana River counties will experience generally sunny and dry weather conditions. The same will apply to some parts of coastal counties with the exemption of the coastal strip of Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties. The Pastoral North West counties; especially western strip of Turkana county is expected to receive Near average rainfall with a slight tendency to above average rainfall. Most of Agro-Pastoral counties are expected to experience sunny and dry weather conditions with the exemption of Narok and Baringo counties which are expected to receive Near-average rainfall. West Figure 2. August 2022 Rainfall forecast Pokot county is expected to receive Near average rainfall with a slight tendency to above average rainfal l respectively. Some parts of central ASAL counties of Laikipia, Embu, Meru, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi are expected to experience periodically chilly and overcast conditions with light rainfall. Figure 3 compares the vegetation condition index (VCI) in July 2021 with that in July 2022. July 2021 July 2022 Figure 3: Maps comparing Vegetation Condition (VCI) The month of July 2022 indicated a slight improvement in vegetation condition across the Arid and Semi-Arid Counties (ASAL) as compared to the previous month of June 2022. The improvement is associated with the off-season showers experienced. However, many areas still experienced vegetation deficits. The current vegetation condition in July 2022 is worse as compared to the same period the previous year, July 2021 as shown in (Figure 2). Two (2) sub counties in Garissa (Balambala, Lagdera) are in Extreme vegetation deficit band hence in need of humanitarian assistance while three counties (3); Isiolo, Laikipia and Mandera are in severe vegetation deficit. Eleven (11) counties including; Garissa, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Mandera, Meru, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Tana River, and Wajir are in Moderate vegetation deficit hence close monitoring and activation of response plans. Four (4) counties including; Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, west Pokot and Turkana recorded Normal vegetation greenness while five (5) counties including; Embu, Baringo, Lamu, Narok and Nyeri recorded Above normal vegetation greenness. A summary of the vegetation condition across ASAL counties as at end of July 2022 is provided in Figure 1. The situation for each county disaggregated by sub-county is provided in Table 1. Category County Sub Counties (No) Extreme (2) Garissa (Balambala, Lagdera) Severe (3) (14) vegetation Isiolo Isiolo (Isiolo-North, Isiolo-South), Kajiado (Kajiado-Central, deficit Laikipia Kajiado-South) Kilifi (Ganze), Kwale (Kinango), Laikipia (Laikipia- East, Laikipia-North) Mandera (Mandera East), Marsabit (Laisamis, Moyale, North Horr) Meru (Igembe North), Samburu (Samburu-East), Moderate (11) (43) vegetation Garissa Garissa (Daadab, Township), Kilifi (Kaloleni, Magarini) Kitui (Kitui- deficit Kajiado, Kilifi, Kitui, Central Kitui East, Kitui South), Laikipia (Laikipia-West) Makueni Kwale, Mandera, (Kibwezi East, Kibwezi West, Kilome) Mandera (Banissa, Mandera Meru, Samburu, Taita East, Lafey, Mandera North, Mandera South, Mandera West) Taveta, Tana River, Marsabit (Saku), Meru (Buuri, Central Imenti, Igembe Central, Igembe North, Igembe South, North Imenti, South Imenti, Tigania East, Tigania West) Nyeri (Township), Samburu (Samburu-North Samburu-West) Taita Taveta (Mwatate, Taveta, Voi, Wundanyi) Tana River ( Bura, Galole, Garsen) Turkana ( Turkana Central, Turkana East, Turkana South), Wajir ( Eldas, Wajir-North, Wajir- South) Normal (4) (25) vegetation Makueni, Tharaka Baringo (Mogotio, Baringo North), Garissa (Fafi), Kajiado greenness Nithi, West Pokot, Turkana (Kajiado-West), Kilifi (Malindi, Kilifi-North, Rabai, Kilifi-South), Kitui (Mwingi Central, Mwingi North, Mwingi West, Kitui-Rural, Kitui West), Kwale (Matuga, Msambweni), Meru (North Imenti), Narok (Narok-South), Nyeri (Kieni), Tharaka Nithi (Tharaka), Turkana (Loima, Turkana North), Wajir (Wajir-East, Tarbaj), West Pokot (Kacheliba, Sigor) Vegetation (5) (32) greenness Embu, Baringo, Lamu, Baringo (Baringo Central, Eldama Ravine, Baringo South, Tiaty), Above normal Narok, Nyeri Embu (Manyatta, Mbeere North, Mbeere South, Runyenjes), Garissa (Ijara), Kajiado (Kajiado-North), Lamu (Lamu East, Lamu West), Makueni (Kaiti, Makueni, Mbooni), Meru (Central Imenti, Igembe South, South Imenti), Narok (Narok-East, Emurua Dikirr, Kilgoris, Narok-North, Narok-West), Nyeri (Mathira, Mukurweini, Othaya, Tetu), Tharaka Nithi (Chuka, Maara) Turkana ( Turkana West), West Pokot (Kapenguria, West-Pokot South) Table 1: Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), July 2022 Livestock production Pasture and browse condition The state of pasture and browse in most of the arid and semi-arid counties was generally in fair to poor conditions as shown in Table 2. The current pasture and browse condition are below normal as compared to normal years with no improvement realized when compared to the previous month probably due to early cessation of the MAM rainfall season which led to little regeneration of pasture and browse. The current pasture and browse condition would not last for long duration due to high concentration of livestock in the grazing areas. Table 2.0: Pasture and browse condition, July 2022 Pasture condition Browse condition Baringo Makueni Kilifi Embu Baringo Kilifi Embu Tharaka Nithi Lamu Garissa Kajiado Lamu Garissa West Pokot Isiolo Kitui Isiolo Mandera Kwale Kajiado Marsabit Laikipia Kitui Meru Makueni Kwale Narok Taita Taveta Laikipia Nyeri Turkana Mandera Samburu West Pokot Marsabit Tana River Livestock body condition The current livestock body condition was stable as compared to previous month of June. Generally, the current body condition of most livestock is below normal. Consequently, most counties reported livestock body condition as fair to poor conditions with exception of Kilifi and Lamu counties which reported good body condition for cattle and goats as shown in Table 3. The fair to poor condition is as result of the poor performance of the 2022 long rains season, which resulted to little or no regeneration of pasture and browse that has direct impact on livestock body condition. Table 3.0: Livestock body condition, July 2022 Cattle Goats Baringo Embu Kilifi Baringo Embu Kilifi Garissa Kitui Lamu Garissa Isiolo Lamu Isiolo Kwale Mandera Kajiado Kajiado Laikipia Marsabit Kitui Mandera Makueni Nyeri Kwale Marsabit Meru Wajir Laikipia Nyeri Narok Makueni Samburu Taita Taveta Meru Turkana Tana River Narok Wajir Tharaka Nithi Samburu West Pokot Taita Taveta Milk production Milk production was on a worsening trend as compared to the previous month in most of the counties. Some counties including; Baringo, Baringo, Kilifi, Mandera, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi West Pokot recorded an improving trend. The below normal milk production is attributed to the poor rainfall performance of the MAM rainfall season. The current milk production status is below average as compared to normal year with Makueni and Tharaka Nithi County being the only county at above LTA. Milk production trends in the 23 ASAL counties is presented in table Table 4.0: Milk production, July 2022 Milk Makueni Kwale Baringo Baringo Embu Garissa Tharaka Nithi Tana River Embu Kilifi Kitui Isiolo Production Garissa Mandera Kwale Kajiado Isiolo Tana River Laikipia Lamu Kajiado Tharaka Nithi Makueni Marsabit Kilifi West Pokot Narok Meru Kitui Taita Taveta Nyeri Laikipia Turkana Samburu Lamu Wajir Marsabit Cattle prices In majority of the counties, cattle prices in the month of July remained stable compared to the previous month. The current cattle prices are below normal in most of the counties in comparison to similar periods during a normal year. However; Tana River, Narok, Lamu and Kwale reported above normal LTA due to increased demand in the livestock market amidst to low supply. Eight counties reported an improving trend in prices whereas five counties reported a worsening trend as illustrated in Table 5. Table 5.0: Cattle prices, July 2022 Cattle Lamu West Pokot Baringo Embu Garissa Baringo Narok Makueni Isiolo Kilifi Isiolo Kwale Tana River Kilifi Kajiado Kitui Laikipia Nyeri Kitui Laikipia Lamu Samburu Kwale Mandera Makueni Turkana Embu Marsabit Mandera Kilifi Garissa Meru Marsabit Nyeri Meru Samburu Narok Taita Taveta Taita Taveta Turkana Tharaka Nithi Wajir Wajir Goat Prices Goat prices in most of the ASAL counties were above LTA. The trend was however stable and worsening. There is an improvement of trend in Garissa and Narok while the counties of Samburu, Turkana, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Wajir, Baringo, Kajiado, Kwale, Lamu and Tana River reported a worsening trend. Table 6.0: Goat Prices, July 2022 Goat Kilifi Embu Samburu Garissa Embu Samburu Kwale Garissa Turkana Narok Isiolo Turkana Laikipia Kitui Meru Kilifi Meru Makueni Lamu Tharaka Kitui Tharaka Nithi Tana River Marsabit Nithi Laikipia Wajir Narok Taita Taveta Wajir Makueni Baringo West Pokot Baringo Mandera Kajiado Isiolo Kajiado Marsabit Kwale Mandera Nyeri Lamu Nyeri West Pokot Tana River Livestock Mortality Drought conditions have persisted in ASAL counties following failed multiple successive rain seasons. Parts of some counties including Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Mandera have had at least 3 failed rain seasons. This has led to conditions of severe to vegetation condition deficit coupled with challenges of access to water. These have led to increased trekking distances to water points and grazing sites for livestock leading to worsening livestock body condition scores and mortality. The livestock mortalities reported so far, are within normal ranges in the ASAL counties except Samburu, Mandera, Isiolo, Lamu, Marsabit and Garissa which have registered slightly above normal mortality rates. In the CMA counties, the crops that were at harvesting stage are in poor sate and thus farmers may not realize any harvest while there were no crops in counties like Nyeri and Makueni. Weeding was ongoing in Mixed Farming Zone of Kwale County. Maize prices In all counties, the price of maize were at a stable and worsening trend in July as compared to the previous month. The current maize prices are above LTA and on worsening trend as compared to the previous month due to depletion of stocks that has resulted to increase in maize prices. Table 7.0: Maize prices, July 2022 Above LTA Atclose to Below LTA Improving Stable Worsening Maize Baringo Garissa Baringo Garissa Kilifi Embu Embu Mandera Isiolo Isiolo Tharaka Nithi Kitui Kajiado Wajir Kwale Kilifi Laikipia Kitui Makueni Makueni Samburu Mandera Taita Marsabit Taveta Narok West Nyeri Pokot Samburu Kajiado Taita-Taveta Lamu Tana River Marsabit Turkana Nyeri WATER ACCESS Access to water for households In comparison to the long-term average, 17 counties reported above LTA distances to water for households while 3 counties are at LTA. In comparison with the previous month, there is a general increasing trend in distance from households to water sources. No county showed an improving trend. The trend in distances walked by households to access water is provided in Table 8. Table 8.0: Distance from households to main water sources, July 2022 Distance Baringo Kilifi Isiolo Kajiado Baringo Embu Kitui Tharaka Nithi Kilifi Embu Garissa Wajir West Pokot Kitui Garissa households Kajiado Kwale Isiolo to main Kwale Laikipia Makueni Laikipia Lamu Mandera water Lamu Marsabit Meru sources Makueni Narok Nyeri Mandera Taita Taveta Samburu Marsabit Tharaka Nithi Tana River Meru West Pokot Turkana Access to water for livestock The trend in the distance trekked by livestock in search of water is presented in Table 9. Compared with the previous month, the current trekking distance to water source from grazing areas is worsening across most of the counties as illustrated in table 9.0. Table 9.0: Distance from livestock grazing area to main water sources, July 2022 Distance from Baringo Lamu Tharaka Nithi Kitui Embu Baringo Embu Garissa Wajir Kwale Kilifi Garissa livestock Isiolo Lamu Laikipia Isiolo grazing area Kajiado West Pokot Marsabit Kajiado to main water Kilifi Taita Taveta Makueni sources Kitui Tana River Mandera Makueni Nyeri Marsabit Tharaka Nithi Taita Taveta Terms of trade Table 10 shows the trends in terms of trade (ToT) between the relative prices of goats and maize in ASAL counties. In most counties, ToT values are below the long-term average (LTA). The TOT is on a worsening trend as it is displaying worsening conditions in most counties. The worsening trend is as a result of stable goat prices, while maize prices has worsened. Table 10.0: Terms of Trade, July 2022 Terms of Nyeri Baringo Garissa Baringo trade Embu Kilifi Embu (ToT) Garissa Mandera Isiolo Isiolo Marsabit Kajiado Kitui Narok Kitui Kwale West Pokot Makueni Makueni Meru Marsabit Taita Taveta Narok Nyeri Samburu Turkana Taita Taveta Wajir Tharaka Nithi Lamu Turkana Tana River Wajir Kwale Kilifi Health and nutrition Table 11 shows the trend in the proportion of children at risk of malnutrition (MUAC) across the ASAL counties. Baringo, Kajiado, Kitui, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, and Wajir have MUAC above the long-term average. This is mostly attributed to the continued reduced milk consumption at household level due to a decrease in milk production, as well as poor dietary diversity, poor child feeding practices, and reduced food intake at household level. Table 11.0: Children at risk of malnutrition (MUAC), July 2022 Baringo Laikipia Embu Garissa Samburu Baringo Kajiado Lamu Garissa Nyeri Isiolo Kajiado MUAC Kitui Kilifi Kwale West Pokot Lamu Kitui Mandera Taita Taveta Makueni Turkana Marsabit Makueni Marsabit Kwale Tana River Mandera Samburu Meru Tharaka-Nithi Meru Tana River Narok Wajir Narok Tharaka Nithi Nyeri Embu Samburu Wajir West-Pokot Garissa Turkana Kilifi Isiolo Taita-Taveta Drought phase classification Table 12 sums up the trends in drought phase classification as at the end of July 2022. On the basis of the range of indicators monitored above, thirteen (13) counties including Embu Garissa, Kajiado, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Narok, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Tharaka Nithi, Tana River and Kwale are in the Alert drought phase, while three (3) counties including Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu are in the Normal drought phase. Seven (7) counties namely; Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir, Laikipia and Marsabit are in Alarm drought phase. During the month under review, three (3) counties reported an improving trend, three (3) counties recorded a stable trend, while seventeen (17) counties reported a worsening trend. Table 12.0: Drought phase classification, July 2022 Drought Trend status Improving Stable Worsening Normal Lamu Baringo Alert Kilifi Kwale Embu Garissa Kitui Makueni Alarm Laikipia Isiolo Marsabit Mandera Recovery Recommendations Food and safety nets Provision of food assistance and scaling up of cash transfers targeting households which are currently food insecure as a result of the prevailing drought stress. Livestock sector Provision of livestock feeds and supplements. Treatment and vaccination against emerging livestock diseases. Water sector Support water trucking interventions. Rehabilitation and maintenance of water facilities. Provision of fuel subsidies to motorized boreholes. Procurement and distribution of water storage tanks. Health and nutrition sector Support on hygiene and sanitation promotions. Provisions for severe acute malnutrition - Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). Supplies for moderate acute malnutrition - Ready to Use Supplementary Food (RUSF). Education sector Enhance hygiene promotion in learning institutions. Provision of food to subsidize school fees in boarding secondary schools. Peace and security sector Facilitating intrainter communities peace dialogues and resource use agreements. Coordination of peace and security activities in conflict prone counties. Coordination Support County Steering Groups (CSGs) to effectively coordinate drought response activities. Table 1: Vegetation Condition Index (VCI-3 month) as at 24th July 2022 BARINGO County 45.38 51.89 The entire county and five of its sub-counties recorded Above Normal Central 47.68 57.51 vegetation greenness which was an improvement when compared with Eldama 53.21 64.44 the previous month of June. Mogotio 41.33 47.72 North 39.05 45.43 South 46.75 51.14 Tiaty 46.32 52.21 MANDERA County 24.11 28.32 The county recorded moderate vegetation condition which is stable Banissa 31.82 31.85 when compared with the previous month of June. Lafey improved from M East 11.2 19.04 severe to moderate vegetation deficit. Lafey 17.96 26.14 M North 28.42 30.26 M South 24.09 31.66 M West 23.6 24.77 TURKANA County 43.33 43.13 The county recorded a stability in vegetation greenness but still T Central 36.11 32.25 remained at normal vegetation condition during the month July. T. East 28.78 29.18 T. Loima 39.83 39.29 T. North 45.68 43.31 T. South 31.5 33.45 T. West 62.78 65.63 MARSABIT County 15.22 15.57 The county remained stable at severe vegetation condition during the Laisaimis 13.93 16.37 month of June. Moyale worsened to severe vegetation greenness from Moyale 22.93 19.77 moderate vegetation greenness N. Horr 13.86 13.77 Saku 17.42 20.56 WAJIR County 23.26 29.14 The County and most of its sub counties remained stable at moderate W East 32.07 41.08 vegetation greenness. W. Eldas 16.49 20.77 W. North 26.73 29.54 W. South 20.4 27.18 W. Tarbaj 31.43 39.33 W West 19.2 24.01 SAMBURU County 19.36 22.22 The county improved from severe vegetation deficit to moderate S East 14.37 15.97 vegetation deficit during the month under review. S. North 24.16 28.6 S. West 23.15 25.66 GARISSA County 29.58 31.6 The county remained stable at moderate vegetation deficit during the Balambala 9.64 9.52 month under review. Balambala was constant at extreme vegetation Daadab 19.16 21.22 deficit. Fafi 37.42 40.08 Ijara 54.09 55.58 Lagdera 6.22 8.42 Dujis 14.93 20.97 ISIOLO County 11.22 12.29 The county and all its sub-counties recorded severe vegetation deficit I. North 11.29 12.95 during the month under review. This was stable when compared to last I. South 11.11 11.27 month. TANA RIVER County 22.95 26.88 The county and all one of its subcounty recorded moderate vegetation Bura 19.5 22.69 deficit. Bura and Galole sub-counties improved from severe vegetation Galole 18.65 23.76 deficit to moderate vegetation deficit. Garsen 28.57 32.38 KAJIADO County 31.02 27.25 The County recorded moderate vegetation deficit. Kajiado central and K. Central 24.28 17.78 east worsened to severe vegetation deficit. K. East 25.89 19.66 K. North 55.67 60.26 K. South 17.9 17.62 K. West 47.11 42.91 LAIKIPIA County 16.35 19.41 The County recorded severe vegetation deficit with a stable trend. L. East 22.08 19.75 Laikipia worsened to severe vegetation deficit. L. North 10.38 12.59 L. West 24.76 32.02 THARAKA County 47.66 46.53 The county recorded normal vegetation greenness during the month NITHI Chuka 56.81 58.67 under review which was a stable trend as compared to the previous Maara 64.62 64.64 month of June. Tharaka 38.79 36.16 WEST POKOT County 38.79 46.65 The County and two of its sub-counties recorded normal vegetation Kacheliba 38.17 43.31 greenness during the month under review which was stable when Kapenguria 35.14 52.41 compared with the previous month of June. Pokot South improved to Pokot South 43.7 64.56 normal vegetation greenness. Sigor 55.11 37.27 EMBU County 29 56.17 The county and all its sub-counties recorded above normal vegetation Manyatta 62.23 62.27 greenness during the month under review which a stable trend. Mbeere 65.67 51.09 Mbeere 60.86 54.36 Runyenjes 61.38 67.64 County 31.92 33.92 The county recorded moderate vegetation deficit during the month of Kitui Central 35.05 31.47 July. Kitui central, Mwingi north and Kitui rural showed a worsening Kitui East 29.86 31.94 trend Mwingi 32.84 35.74 KITUI Mwingi 36 32.9 Mwingi 48.85 42.69 Kitui Rural 35.66 33.06 Kitui South 27.95 33.36 Kitui West 40.85 37.46 County 42.85 41.32 The county recorded normal vegetation greenness during the month Kaiti 65.77 57.55 under review which was a stable trend as compared to June. Kilome Kibwezi East 29.63 29.38 deteriorated to moderate vegetation deficit. Kibwezi 32.14 32.31 MAKUENI West Kilome 40.96 28.64 Makueni 60.66 63.49 Mbooni 60.67 57.5 County 38.12 34.01 The county and four of its sub-counties recorded moderate vegetation Buuri 30.92 28.06 deficit. Central 62.21 58.84 Imenti MERU Igembe 36.64 31.13 Igembe 13.11 10.36 Igembe 57.49 51.78 North Imenti 46.51 38.56 South Imenti 65.8 64.99 Tigania East 32.92 27.07 Tigania West 29.33 22.72 County 57.17 53.3 The county and all of its sub counties remained stable at above normal NYERI Kieni 48.12 56.88 vegetation greenness. Kieni and township improved from normal Mathira 65.91 65.53 vegetation greenness to above normal vegetation greenness. Mukurweini 76.5 53.53 Othaya 74.14 59.11 Tetu 70.43 48.77 Township 49.27 52.33 County 19.81 27.22 The vegetation condition in the county deteriorated to severe KILIFI Ganze 12.85 18.87 vegetation deficit during the month under review. Rabai, Kilifi South and Kaloleni 14.26 22.36 Kilifi South improved from moderate vegetation deficit to normal Magarini 21.72 26.78 vegetation greenness. Malindi 28.77 39.73 Kilifi-North 23.29 44.44 Rabai 25.74 41.13 Kilifi-South 25.25 46.61 KWALE County 19.99 21.69 The county recorded an improvement from severe vegetation deficit to Kinango 12.79 12.21 moderate vegetation greenness during the month under review. Lungalunga 22.32 26.84 Matuga 41.67 47.53 Msambweni 38.89 43.52 LAMU County 57.28 69.65 The County and all of its sub-counties recorded above normal vegetation Lamu East 57.25 67.49 greenness. All the sub-counties showed improvement. Lamu West 57.3 70.9 TAITA County 20.31 23.2 The County recorded moderate vegetation deficit which was stable TAVETA Mwatate 18.78 22.44 when compared to the previous month of June. Mwatate and Voi Taveta 24.85 25.07 improved to moderate vegetation deficit from severe vegetation deficit. Voi 18.3 22.17 Wundanyi 26.53 28.66 County 57.05 53.3 Narok-East 58.56 56.88 NAROK Emurua 67.4 65.53 There was stability in vegetation cover as the county and all of its sub- Dikirr counties recorded Above normal vegetation greenness during the Kilgoris 54.11 53.53 month of July. Narok-North 56.24 59.11 Narok-South 57.02 48.77 Narok-West 57.7 52.33 Table 14.0: Indicators monitored by the drought early warning system Type of indicator Examples of indicators monitored Types of impact Biophysical Rainfall data Environmental State of water sources Production Livestock body condition Livestock production Milk production Crop production Livestock migration Livestock mortality Access Terms of trade (meatmaize) Markets Milk consumption Access to food and water Distances to water Utilization MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) Nutrition Coping strategies Coping strategies Food consumption score Summary of the drought early warning system Each month, field monitors collect data in a number of sentinel sites across 23 arid and semi-arid counties. This is then complemented by information from other sources, particularly satellite data. For all indicators, the current value is compared with the long-term average for the time of year in order to establish whether it falls within seasonal norms. Four types of indicators are monitored, capturing different kinds of impact (Table 12). The combined analysis from all four indicator groups then determines the particular drought phase: normal, alert, alarm, emergency or recovery (Figure 4). Identifying the correct drought phase helps to guide the most appropriate response for that stage in the drought cycle.