Surviving Food Insecurity in Kenya
The Smell of an Empty Plate
A photo essay by Betty Stacy, Joyce Mngodo, Anisa Muridi & Fatuma Ibrahim
Kenya ranks as one of the countries with the highest food insecurity in the world. The country’s urban and rural areas are currently experiencing severe food shortages and malnutrition due to two years of failed rains, climate change, a locust infestation, the conflict in the Ukraine, and inflation. Kenyans find it challenging to consume their customary three meals a day due to the high cost of staple foods. While this is happening, many people in the northern, semi-arid areas lack any access to food. And for people across the country, safety and assurance has disappeared.
SMALL SCALE FARM IN KAREN, NAIROBI - As a rain-fed economy the country relies almost entirely on produce from small-scale farmers who simply can not keep up.
SMALL SCALE FARM IN KAREN, NAIROBI - As a rain-fed economy the country relies almost entirely on produce from small-scale farmers who simply can not keep up.
CROP FAILURE IN KAREN, NAIROBI - Now there is less food production due to poor rains “This is a serious problem. We will not have anything to eat.” said Alderton Garama, a small scale farmer in Karen, Nairobi.
CROP FAILURE IN KAREN, NAIROBI - Now there is less food production due to poor rains “This is a serious problem. We will not have anything to eat.” said Alderton Garama, a small scale farmer in Karen, Nairobi.
SHOPKEEPER UNLOADING HIS STOCK IN KIBERA, NAIROBI - The impacts of what is happening on the farms can already be felt in informal settlements in Nairobi City. The main issue facing the urban population has been their inability to purchase food, as well as the prohibitive cost of food and for a population living in poverty that can feel like a death sentence.
SHOPKEEPER UNLOADING HIS STOCK IN KIBERA, NAIROBI - The impacts of what is happening on the farms can already be felt in informal settlements in Nairobi City. The main issue facing the urban population has been their inability to purchase food, as well as the prohibitive cost of food and for a population living in poverty that can feel like a death sentence.
YOUNG FATHER WITH SON IN KIBERA SLUMS, NAIROBI - The hunger crisis is adversely affected by the conflict in Ukraine and the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, which has driven up the prices of cooking oil, bread, and wheat flour to all-time highs in local markets.
YOUNG FATHER WITH SON IN KIBERA SLUMS, NAIROBI - The hunger crisis is adversely affected by the conflict in Ukraine and the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, which has driven up the prices of cooking oil, bread, and wheat flour to all-time highs in local markets.
BANANAS ROTTING IN A KIBERA STALL, NAIROBI - In a fruit and vegetable stall in Kibera, a vendor is worried about incurring losses. The high cost of fuel has meant that he has to spend more on transportation which means he has to increase prices of the fruits and vegetables. “People do not buy here as often as they used to because of the hiked food prices and so the vegetables take a while to sell out” says the vendor.
BANANAS ROTTING IN A KIBERA STALL, NAIROBI - In a fruit and vegetable stall in Kibera, a vendor is worried about incurring losses. The high cost of fuel has meant that he has to spend more on transportation which means he has to increase prices of the fruits and vegetables. “People do not buy here as often as they used to because of the hiked food prices and so the vegetables take a while to sell out” says the vendor.
MOTHERS IN KIBERA SLUM, NAIROBI “You can’t expect someone earning 100 Kenya shillings a day to buy maize flour for 200 Kenya shillings. Children here are going to school hungry we can’t even feed them breakfast” the mother said.
MOTHERS IN KIBERA SLUM, NAIROBI “You can’t expect someone earning 100 Kenya shillings a day to buy maize flour for 200 Kenya shillings. Children here are going to school hungry we can’t even feed them breakfast” the mother said.
SOKO GALA, MARKETPLACE IN MOYALE-ETHOPIA BORDER - The conditions are more obvious in the North Eastern part of Kenya which has a more arid and semi-arid climate.
SOKO GALA, MARKETPLACE IN MOYALE-ETHOPIA BORDER - The conditions are more obvious in the North Eastern part of Kenya which has a more arid and semi-arid climate.
DRY SEASONAL RIVER AND IN HEILU VILLAGE, MOYALE - The rivers are running dry, spreading misery and tension to residents in heilu village whose fate now hangs in the balance. Due to the lack of river water flowing into the reservoir, people have been forced to drink salty water from boreholes.
DRY SEASONAL RIVER AND IN HEILU VILLAGE, MOYALE - The rivers are running dry, spreading misery and tension to residents in heilu village whose fate now hangs in the balance. Due to the lack of river water flowing into the reservoir, people have been forced to drink salty water from boreholes.
A STARVED COW IN HEILU VILLAGE, MOYALE - A malnourished cow looking for a place to graze in the midst of a drought in Heilu village.
A STARVED COW IN HEILU VILLAGE, MOYALE - A malnourished cow looking for a place to graze in the midst of a drought in Heilu village.
BESHARA MARKET, MOYALE - A normal day at Beshara market in Moyale county.
BESHARA MARKET, MOYALE - A normal day at Beshara market in Moyale county.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN - FARM TANZANIA - The Government of Tanzania and other Interventions have created programs for small farmers which has equipped and provided them with enough knowledge, skills and improved technology that has helped them exercise sustainable agriculture. Kenya imports most of its maize from Tanzania.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN - FARM TANZANIA - The Government of Tanzania and other Interventions have created programs for small farmers which has equipped and provided them with enough knowledge, skills and improved technology that has helped them exercise sustainable agriculture. Kenya imports most of its maize from Tanzania.
FAMILIES RECEIVING FOOD FROM DONORS IN KIBERA SLUM NAIROBI - People are standing together and trying to alleviate the urgent hunger and malnutrition crisis.
FAMILIES RECEIVING FOOD FROM DONORS IN KIBERA SLUM NAIROBI - People are standing together and trying to alleviate the urgent hunger and malnutrition crisis.
CHILDREN AT KIBERA SLUMS - “All I can think about is our children's future” says a mother in Kibera.
CHILDREN AT KIBERA SLUMS - “All I can think about is our children's future” says a mother in Kibera.
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