This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
As the world grapples with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya is facing a daunting challenge in ensuring food security for its citizens. The pandemic has led to a significant strain on food supply chains, causing a shortage of essential commodities.
According to the United Nations, 265 million people worldwide will face acute food shortage by December 2020, a doubling of the previous prediction of 135 million. In Kenya, the situation is equally dire, with 1.3 million people facing acute food shortage due to droughts, extended rains, and locust infestations.
The desert locust infestation has been particularly devastating, with the UN describing it as the worst in a decade. Climate change, caused by countries that pollute the environment more, has exacerbated the problem, leaving Kenya and other vulnerable countries to deal with the consequences.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group, a committee run by the government, reports that food availability remains stable due to favourable harvests in most agricultural areas. This means that food is available, but the challenge lies in ensuring that Kenyans have access to it.
One solution is cash transfers to the most vulnerable, who are struggling to make ends meet due to unemployment caused by the pandemic. With high internet and mobile penetration rates in Kenya, this could be achieved through direct transfers to those in need.
It is essential that the government works with citizens to come up with practical and sustainable solutions to address the food security crisis. Some palliatives, such as cash transfers, could be beneficial in the short term, while long-term solutions focus on food security as a fundamental human right.
As Professor at Georgetown University notes, 'it is a pity to squander hard work, just as it is a pity to squander food.' The government must prioritize food security, and whoever succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta after the 2022 General Election must focus on this agenda to avoid wasting the hard work done up until the Covid-19 era.
