Luvei Times Kenya's Social Online Magazine

Kenya food shortages adversely affects security

By HUDSON GUMBIHI
THE biting food shortage in Kenya has adversely compromised the security situation in a country where more than 10 million people are faced with starvation.
In marginalized parts; cattle rustling and banditry incidences are commonplace; armed robberies and organized crimes are frequent in urban settings. Food and security experts are unanimous that the worsening insecurity is linked to empty granaries across the country.
Hunger is driving people to kill each other as they struggle, albeit, through illegitimate means to fulfill the motivation to eat. “The situation will not be better soon, even with onset of the much anticipated El Nina rains, insecurity will prevail for the next six or so months. And this is very worrying,” says retired Captain Simiyu Werunga, a security expert who runs a college in the field.
In Arid and semi-arid areas of Turkana, Pokot, Samburu, Baringo, Marsabit, Moyale, Ijara, Kwale, Garissa, Mwingi, Kitui, Kajiado, Isiolo, Laikipia, Kilifi, Mbeere, Mandera and Lamu among others, locals virtually live in fear since bandits and rustlers have overwhelmed security agents deployed in those areas.

women participating in craft making

Armed attackers

Raiders armed with sophisticated weaponry attack with ease and will killing, maiming, and stealing livestock with a trail of more destruction behind their footsteps. Last week’s bloodbath at a manyatta in Kanampiu in Samburu East district, is a gory picture and summary of a pathetic food circus facing the country.
At the end of the orgy of violence at Kanampiu 35 locals including hapless women and children lay dead after their lives were snuffed out by frenzied Pokot morans determined to eke a livelihood. The victims had resisted their animals, which later ended on dinning tables or markets, being stolen by the heavily armed attackers.
A day later, bandits struck at Kainuk in Turkana seriously injuring two police officers on escort assignment. The officers were in a group of eight providing back-up service to an international food distribution agency when an attempt was made to empty the loaded truck.
The officers have since been airlifted to Nairobi, Kenya to receiving special treatment, their condition remains life threatening, according to a colleague who did not wish to be named because he is not allowed to talk to the media.

Long spell of drought

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia admitted the food shortage was directly linked to spiraling insecurity. However, he says the Government would not relent on its mandate to protect citizens against criminals.
“We have launched operations to apprehend, disarm and prosecute the perpetrators,” he notes. Consequently the Kenyan Government has made a passionate appeal to the donor communities and those living in the diaspora to salvage the situation since the country can easily slip into anarchy.
The food shortage is traced to a long spell of drought, the country recorded low levels of rain countrywide. Many farms remain barren, even in the rich agricultural North Rift region comprising Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia, and parts of larger Nakuru district.

Insufficient food stocks

Latest forecasts on the food patterns indicate that only Western province in Kenya, has sufficient food stocks and supply. According to the Food Security Steering Group, the expected 2009 long rain season maize production is estimated at 1.84 million metric tonnes, which is 28 per cent below normal.
There is a growing apprehension that the estimated production could further be revised downwards due to insufficient and erratic rains in future – compounded with the expected ravaging El Nina phenomenon, yet Kenya has no capacity to harvest the flash floods for viable utilization.
In urban areas insecurity has worsened after being aggravated by factors like high food costs, high malnutrition and deteriorating terms of trade leading to low purchase power. Food is beyond the reach of most urban dwellers especially those to be found in mushrooming hovels.

Kidnap and hijackings

In Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret, a new type of organized crime in the name of kidnapping has emerged. However according to police investigations, the perpetrators are amateurs driven by the need to satisfy their hunger needs. “They are not serious syndicates but remain life threatening nevertheless. But we are discovering those behind them are willing to kill for the seek of their empty stomachs,” notes Richard Katola, head of Special Crime Prevention Unit.
Of late, kidnappers have been demanding as little as Ksh.3000 or about US dollars 26 from families of abducted victims. Those falling prey are mainly children. But the crime is more prevalent in Nairobi where people bitten by the economic recession, live in fear of stalking abductors.
Armed robberies targeting private motorists and public service vehicles have become ordinary. Interestingly, in most incidences, the hijackers have told victims that they engage in the crime because they have nothing to eat, according to police who extract statements.
So the food situation in Kenya could soon snowball into a war between the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have not’, according to Simiyu who also offers consultation and investigation services to his clients across the country.