Kenya's Drought-Stricken Food Supply Faces Bleak Outlook

A severe drought is affecting Kenya's food supply, causing shortages and rising prices of milk, maize, wheat, and other staples. The dry spell has reduced pasture and fodder in dairy-producing areas, leading to a decline in milk production.

The Kenya Dairy Board reports that formal deliveries to milk processors fell 3.7% from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July, with preliminary figures indicating another decline in August.

The drought is also threatening maize supplies, with the US Department of Agriculture estimating a maize deficit of about 2.2 million tonnes following crop failures in key producing areas. This could require Kenya to import around 2.3 million tonnes of maize, adding pressure on maize flour prices.