Kenya

Issues/Crisis
Major Diseases Degree of risk:? high.
Food or waterborne diseases:? bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever.
Vectorborne diseases:? malaria and Rift Valley fever.
Water contact disease:? schistosomiasis.
Animal contact disease:? rabies (2009).
Current Environmental issues
Water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased
use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; poaching
Political Climate
In December 2008, the election of President Mwai Kibaki turned violent when the opposition
leader Raila Odinga and his supporters questioned the legitimacy of the election which lead to
conflict between the country’s dominant ethnic groups. Since the poll, more than 600 civilians
died and about a quarter of a million people were forced out of their homes due to the violence.
Due to the disputed election in December, 600 civilians died and
Refugees and IDPs
Refugees (country of origin): 173,702 (Somalia); 73,004 (Sudan); 16,428 (Ethiopia).
IDPs: 250,000-400,000 (2007 post-election violence; KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups
in 1990s) (2007).
Food
5.6 million people are in need of food because of high food and fuel prices.
31% of the population is undernourished.
20% of children under the age of five are underweight.
340,000 Sudan and Somali refugees are in camps needing food aid(WFP).
Threats to food security
? Poverty.
? High demographic growth.
? Semi-arid lands in the north and east.
? Droughts.
? HIV/AIDS.
? Education
? Literacy
Defination: age 15 and over can read and write.
Total population: 85.1%
Male: 90.6%
Female: 79.7% (2003 est)
Economic
GDP(purchasing power purity): 61.83 billion
Unemployment rate: 40%