Damage Analysis and Needs Assessment (Dana) Report of the Effect of the Drought on The

DAMAGE ANALYSIS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT (DANA) REPORT OF THE EFFECT OF THE DROUGHT ON THE LIVESTOCK AND THE PEOPLES OF THE LARGER MWINGI DISTRICT OF KENYA

INTRODUCTION

The Horn of Africa is experiencing major food insecurity as a result of lack of long rains in the region in the last three years. This has resulted in a severe drought, which in Kenya has been declared a national disaster. Over 3.5 million people in Kenya are facing this crisis, with the most affected being the agro-pastoral and pastoral communities that reside in the arid and semi-arid arid lands (ASAL), which compromise over 75% of the country’s land mass. The government of Kenya (GOK), and also other organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have moved in to assist the vulnerable communities and those affected by the drought and their livestock, using various strategies and means to help the communities sustain their lives and livelihoods.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) endeavours to establish a bigger presence in the African continent, to participate in issues and activities that would enhance the well being of animals. To this extent, the WSPA has partnered with the University Of Nairobi (UON) to build capacity and training on aspects of animal welfare, and more recently, on capacity building and training on disaster management, with emphasis on how disasters impact on and would be handled as they affect animals. Consequently, the WSPA has facilitated the establishment of a Veterinary Emergency Response Unit (VERU) at UON to meet this goal. These initiatives would position Kenya as a platform for animal welfare and disaster responses regarding animals in the region.

In view of the current drought emergency in the country, the WSPA felt the need to offer assistance to the affected communities through the UON-VERU. A DANA team was thus put in place to carry out the exercise.

METHODOLOGY

Laying of Groundwork

Initial consultations were held between Lindsay Fyffe, Nick de Souza, Henry Mutembei, Sergio Vasquez, and Victor Tsuma on the sites for disaster assessment and intervention. It was agreed to seek guidance from the Department of Veterinary Services in Kenya for recommendations on the activity site. The Director of Veterinary Services (DVS), Kenya, Dr. Peter Ithondeka, recommended the South Eastern region of the country for the intended intervention and after consultations with the Eastern Provincial Director of Veterinary Services, the larger Mwingi district was agreed as the DANA site. The Office of the President, Republic of Kenya, was also consulted, as this is the office that deals with disasters in Kenya. Dr. Kiema was the link person in the office of the president. A DANA team comprising the following personnel was set up:

1. Dr. Sergio Vasquez – Team Leader
2. Dr. Nick de Souza: WSPA Africa Representative- Logistics Backup
3. Dr. Henry Mutembei: UON-VERU- Liaison and Logistics person
4. Dr. Victor Tsuma: UON-VERU- Communications Person
5. Dr. Edward Kiema: National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC), Office of the President, Kenya
6. Josiah Ojwang: Donkey Sanctuary, Kenya
7. Peter Ngángá: Driver, UON
8. George Kirimi: Driver, Private hire

The DANA was to be carried out with the clearance, knowledge and involvement of the necessary structures of the Government of Kenya (GOK).

Meetings and Briefings

Sunday 28th August, 2011

All the DANA team members with the exception of Josiah (Absent with apologies), met at the Pride Inn hotel, where Sergio and Nick were staying to know each other and chart out the schedule of activities.

The following topics were discussed and adapted to the local conditions:This the role of VERU Coordinator.

• ICS, roles and duties
• Security and Biosecurity protocols
• Communications protocols
• Logistics
• Meetings schedule and engagement protocol
• Budget revision

The supplies for the field operations for the entire DANA period were source and purchased.

Monday 29th August, 2011

The entire DANA team visited the DVS at his offices in the morning. The DVS’s team consisted of Dr. Peter Ithondeka (DVS), and Drs. Awando and Maritim, who work in the DVS’s office, in the section of disease control. Henry introduced the DANA team to the DVS and his team, and also outlined the objectives of the DANA. Nick briefed the DVS and his team on the mandate and objectives of WSPA, and its engagement in Africa. The DVS welcomed the team to his department and indicated that the larger Mwingi district was severely affected by the drought and hence the need for intervention. He indicated that the main challenge in the area was water. He suggested that the scale of the activities of the DANA should not be over amplified to avoid causing anxiety and over expectations by the communities. He indicated his department’s willingness to participate in any intervention measures, and that development of joint work plans would be a feasible way to go, as his department can provide logistical support such as vehicles, personnel, vaccines etc. He reiterated the need for sustainability of any intervention measures adopted. Sergio supplemented Henry’s outline of the activities and re-emphasized to the DVS the importance WSPA attaches to operating within existing government structures, and that the findings of the DANA would remain within the team and first cleared with the office of the DVS and any other relevant government structure prior to any onward sharing.

From the DVS’s office, the team visited the Department of Clinical Studies, University of Nairobi, where the UON-VERU is based. As above, Henry and Sergio briefed the Chairman of the Department, Prof. Charles Mulei on the planned DANA activities. Nick also outlined WSPA objectives and mandate and also recognized the great cooperation offered by the department and Prof. Mulei, in particular in supporting WSPA activities within the department. Prof. Mulei welcomed the team to the department and wished them the best in their endeavours. He appreciated the great efforts of WSPA in assisting the University, and the department in particular to launch animal welfare and disaster management capacity building and activities. He affirmed the University’s commitment to be a centre of excellence in the ventures.

In the afternoon the team, with the exception of Josiah (absent with apologies), visited the NDOC, in the office of the President. The team was received by Mr. Munyi, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police and is in charge of Logistics at the NDOC. Nick, Henry, and Sergio briefed him on the DANA and WSPA. He conveyed the apologies of the Director of the NDOC, who would otherwise have met the team but was engaged elsewhere. He took the team through the history of the centre and its mandate. Namely, that the centre was established in 1998 following the floods as a result of the El Nino rains, that ravaged the country. In 1998, there was a terrorist bomb blast in Nairobi, and this further affirmed the requirement of the existence of the centre. The centre is manned by personnel with a broad range of professional specialities. The mission of the centre includes, monitoring, mobilizing and coordinating resources for disaster management, and also collaborating and networking with other stakeholders in disaster management. Mr. Munyi then took the team around the facilities of the centre.

Tuesday 30th August, 2011

The team left for Mwingi.

In Mwingi, the District Veterinary Officer (DVO), Dr. Peter Kithuka joined the team. Together with Mr. Joseph Mandu, of the Livestock Production department, they briefed the DANA team that the drought situation in the larger Mwingi was severe. In spite of this, the farmers were reluctant to destock the animals. Usually, the farmers sell animals to buy food but not destocking due to drought. The GOK had an off take/destocking program where severely affected animals were purchased from the communities, slaughtered and distributed for free to the residents as food. However, in some areas only a few farmers entered the program as they felt that the price offered for the animals was low. The farmers keep hoping that the rains will come soon, and save their animals. The officers also felt that another challenge was that the members of the community were used to the culture of being given handouts.

In the afternoon, the DANA team had a meeting with some of the members of the Mwingi Central District Steering Group (DSG), who included, the District commissioner (DC),Mr. Peter Kinuthia; the Disaster Monitoring Officer (DMO), Mr. Francis Koma; and the District Livestock Production Officer (DLPO), Mr. Wanderi. Henry introduced the DANA team to the DSG and Sergio gave a brief too. The DC indicated that they had a lot of information on the ground and therefore needed to know what the team was going to assess. Sergio indicated to him that the team needed to be on the ground and see firsthand the situation and also verify any available information. The DC indicated that they had already done assessment severally and written reports. They were now in the intervention phase, and that that is what was needed. He requested that the timelines between DANA and intervention be shortened as the intervention was urgently required. He recommended enhancement of the off take program and provision of pastures as priority. He instructed his team to cooperate with the DANA team and avail to it all the information and support they would require for the exercise. The DMO welcomed the team and provided the May, June and July bulletins on the disaster situation in the district. He also provided the team with the digital map of the district and recommended the routes to be taken for an effective DANA.

Wednesday 31st August, 2011

The team left Mwingi Central to visit Tseikuru district. On the way the team noticed some water dams constructed with the aid of USAID. They also encountered farmers at some watering points and interviewed them. One lady farmer indicated that she had 15 cattle, 70 goats and 32 sheep. She had not lost any animals to the drought but had migrated her cattle elsewhere in search of pasture as they were more vulnerable. She has a 12 acre pasture paddock that she has fenced for her animal’s grazing. This, together with use of veterinary drugs, helped her cope with the drought. She had destocked some of her animals, and was still concerned that there was no pasture for the remaining ones. According to her, her greatest challenges in order of priority were: lack of feed for the animals, animal health issues, and lack of labour. She felt that intervention ought to address animal feeds, animal health, and basic training and community approach to animal health care. Since she was not far from the watering point, water was not a challenge.

In Tseikuru district, the team was received by the Ngomeni assistant chief, Mr. David Musee Kinyumu. He informed the team that the community required advice on how to cope with drought. He also reported that Somalis had come into the area in search of water and pasture. To avoid and resolve conflict, a council of elders consisting of 5 members each from among the locals and from among the Somalis had been set up under his chairmanship. The DANA team visited a watering point that was used jointly between the locals and the Somalis. The farmers had to walk long distances, of up to 6 km to access the water, whereas the Somali pastoralists journeyed up to 4 days to reach the water. Consequently, at best, the animals were watered once every 3 days.

Thursday 1st September, 2011

The team visited Kyuso district. They were received by the District Livestock Production Officer (DLPO), Mr. Thiongo Wanjii and introduced to the Kyuso DC, Mr. Peter Maina. The DC indicated that the district was food insecure and was dependent on relief food from the GOK, WFP, and the Red Cross. Currently, the district was receiving about 2,000 bags of maize per month. There was also intervention through the Ministry of Agriculture through assorted relief seed (green grams, sorghum etc) in preparation of the expected rains. The challenge was that plenty of rain falls, but all of it within a few days, not sufficient to sustain crop maturity. When the rains are well spread, the district experiences good yields. Two years ago this happened and the district even exported green grams to India. He thus felt that water harvesting can be of great help as the district is endowed with good fertile soils and a warm climate. Meat animals also do well; bullocks mature fast and goats have a high fecundity. Livestock is an integral way of life here. Insecurity arises when Somalis come into the area and their animals feed and trample on the crops of the locals. The GOK has assisted with the off take program. The concept of water harvesting, such as building houses with gutters and tanks is lacking and needs to be inculcated in the community. He feels that priorities of intervention should target water harvesting by way of establishing sand dams on river Thunguthu and at household level through guttering and water tanks, which can be done on a cost-sharing basis with the residents. The DLPO, Mr. Wanjii, informed the team that on consultation with the community, the DSG targeted goats for the off take program. This way, the financial benefits would spread to more households, as many goats belonging to different farmers would be bought, slaughtered and the meat distributed to the residents, unlike the case with cattle, where the same amount of meat for distribution would be derived from fewer animals as cattle are larger, and thus only few farmers would be paid to supply this low number. The DSG was also providing farmers with locally collected pasture seeds for re-seeding when the rains come, and was also supplying some supplements to the livestock. For distribution, there is a relief committee up to the grass root level that identifies the most needy members of the community.

A farmer, Mathumbi Wambua was interviewed. He had 10 goats and 15 cows. His biggest challenges were lack of water and pasture, and he had to walk his animals for 30 km to the watering point. The watering frequency was every 3 days and sometimes they had to dig up to 90 feet to get to the water. Additionally, there was a problem of transmission of animal diseases (especially mange and respiratory diseases) from the Somali animals to his. Due to these challenges, the livestock prices were low as the animals were in poor body condition. His coping strategies included migration in search of water and pasture and feeding the animals on wild tubers (locally known as mathunzu). He had lost 50% of his cattle to drought. His intervention prioritization would be water, animal feeds, and animal health care.

Friday 2nd September, 2011

The team visited Mumoni district. They were received by Mr. Ndwiga from the DVO’s office and presented to the DC, Mr. Tobiko Nayioma, who welcomed them. The DC indicated that the district was receiving assistance from the Ministry of Special Programmes in the form of maize, beans and vegetable oil. They were receiving about 2,000 bags of maize and 300 bags of beans per month. They had also received financial support from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation for water trucking, which they had delivered to 20 schools and 4 markets. The relief food is distributed and the process is monitored. In the 2009 drought, the district lost almost 80% of its livestock population, and thus the residents are cautious about restocking. If not for drought, the DC indicated that the animals, especially goats, do well in the area, and recommends that farmers should concentrate on goat, as opposed to cattle rearing. The district would appreciate and welcome any form of intervention. The Catholic diocese was assisting in water harvesting in the form of dams. The FAO was also constructing dams, and was involved in a cash for work program on terracing. The DSG has no challenges with mobilization of relief supplies as relief committees are present to the grass root level. The priorities for the district would be encouraging farmers to concentrate on goat rearing, water, animal health care and empowerment of the residents. The DC then took the team to visit one of the dams constructed by the catholic church. Around the dam will be planted indigenous trees and pastures.

Saturday 3rd September, 2011

The DANA team visited Nuu Market in Mwingi East district. It was a market day, so the team was able to interview a number of livestock keepers. Generally, their main challenges were lack of pastures, lack of water (walk 3-5 hours to watering point) and animals succumb in the process. Their coping strategies include destocking (although the community members are averse to selling pregnant or recently calved animals) and they purchase pastures from the market. Their intervention needs would include provision of boreholes near the grazing zones, animal health care and pastures. In this community, some women have formed groups that were involved in indigenous poultry rearing, as an alternative livelihood source. We visited two such groups where they had constructed enclosed poultry structures and each group member brought one chicken for the initial breeding stock. One group had 8 chickens and the other one 12. They are trained on poultry husbandry and their flock vaccinated for Newcastle disease. Lack of capital and the soft tick are challenges to their venture.