How Covid-19 is impacting Kenya’s food systems: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
As the second quarter of 2020 came to a close, Kenya, much like the rest of the world, was reflecting on a period full of uncertainties in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although a 3-month countrywide lock-down was lifted on 6th of July, there are still fears that the situation may be far from being contained. It is possible that further restrictions may be put in place as the infection rates keep rising, having just exceeded 14,000 with 6,200 recoveries and 250 fatalities.
When the pandemic was first reported in the country in early March, many feared the worst based on reports coming from Italy and other hot-spots, as I reflected in the blog, “Writing in the time of Corona.” In the months that followed, we gained more clarity regarding the situation. Meanwhile, numerous articles have been written on the effect of the pandemic on food systems.
This post makes a broad sweep of “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” sides of Covid-19 on Kenyan food systems, borrowing from my own writings as well as those done by my #Covid19FoodFuture colleagues, Sharon J Cheboi and Amanda Namayi from Kenya, and Yared Tesema from Ethiopia, as well as various media reports.
The Good
It is a good thing that the pandemic has not ravaged the country as was initially feared. At the time of writing, Kenya has reported more than 14,000 cases with 250 deaths. This is equivalent to a death rate of less than 2.0% of those infected, which, compared to much higher casualties in other parts of the world, can be considered a positive outlook. From a health perspective, therefore, the country has not suffered immensely … yet. One can only hope that government interventions, as well as personal responsibility, will help drive down infections and death rates..
For the most part, food systems have not been seriously affected by the crisis, with production remaining largely stable. This article mentions some of the ways a cross-section of farmers were coping with the pandemic. While some altered operations others found innovative ways of serving their markets. In general, all profiled agri-businesses were doing their best to stay afloat through the pandemic with the intention of setting up systems that would make them better prepared for such shocks in future.
Likewise, there have been government support programmes such as those implemented by Nakuru County. The County’s Department of Agriculture has continued working through the pandemic to serve the needs of its farmers. Additionally, it has aided them in reaching markets despite movement restrictions through a partnership with e-commerce platform Mkulima Young.
Beyond production, previous posts have argued that the pandemic has helped increase awareness on food safety. We also analysed how Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of indigenous foods, and presented reasons why they must be treated as priority crops.
Another positive dimension to the crisis is the speed with which food distributors have found innovative ways of reaching the market, despite strict lockdown measures. It could be said that Covid-19 has triggered the rise of e-commerce platforms focusing on agricultural products. However, it remains to be seen whether this shift will be sustained post-Covid-19.
Furthermore, some of those carrying out charitable food drives have tapped into digital technologies such as the Bonga Points system introduced by the largest mobile service provider, Safaricom. The company reports that more than KES 300 million (approximately USD 3 million) worth of Bonga Points have been redeemed for food and other essentials.
The pandemic has also showcased Kenyans’ sense of community. The holy month of Ramadan coincided with the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions. However, Muslim faithful found ways of providing food to the most vulnerable amongst them. Equally impressive is the work done by organizations such as Food4Education, which has provided more than 1.5m meals to vulnerable families.
The emergence of car-boot food vending as a way for middle class Kenyans to cope with lost jobs and livelihoods, is another indicator of Kenyans’ resilience and adaptability in spite of economic hurdles brought about by the pandemic.
The Bad
Covid-19 is not the only calamity that has been ravaging Kenya and East Africa at large. Coming on the heels of floods and locusts invasions, as in both Ethiopia, and Kenya, this triple burden is a major threat to food security in the region. Although the floods have largely subsided, locusts still pose great challenges, amid reports that they have swollen to 20 times their previous size, as reported by the EastAfrican newspaper. Spraying operations spearheaded by FAO are still ongoing, reports the BBC.
Even in the absence of a total economic shutdown, the virus has had a devastating impact on livelihoods. The Central Bank of Kenya warned that up to 75% of small- and medium-sized enterprises may collapse, putting more than 500,000 jobs at risk. Thousands have already lost their sources of livelihood, and are finding it hard to feed their families. A previous post highlighted how budding athletes in Kenya have been some of the most severely affected.
Several initiatives have been established to cushion those with lost incomes against the ravages of hunger. We question, for example, the effectiveness of some of these social protection measures. Accelerating the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) so as to more effectively map out and reach the most needy is one of the solutions proposed. Along the same lines, there is need for nutritional balance in the food packages delivered to vulnerable households. Implementing policies that will increase the diversity and volumes of local production is emphasised.
These arguments make sense, especially considering that Covid-19 has revealed how incredibly food insecure Kenya is, despite having sufficient natural capital to produce enough food for its population. It was shocking to learn that Kenya’s Strategic Food Reserve was empty at the onset of the pandemic, with the government controversially seeking to import maize. Another consequence of such over-dependence on imports can be seen in the severe shortage of bulb onions following a diplomatic war between Kenya and Tanzania linked to Covid-19 border closures.
The Ugly
Unfortunately, numerous reports of police brutality while enforcing Covid-19 restrictions, rank among the ugly outcomes of the pandemic. Some of the actions attributed to overzealous officers include maiming, and even killing 15 people. Such actions also constitute a food security threat because they rob the victims of their ability to work and seek food, while families are robbed of breadwinners. .
Another major concern is the fate of long-distance truck drivers. These individuals are essential cogs in the food system. They transport cargo from the port of Mombasa in Kenya, to inland destinations in Uganda, and other landlocked countries within East Africa. However, drivers have been experiencing terrible working conditions due to Covid-19 border restrictions and stigmatization, due to public perception that they are “carriers” of the disease. So far, it has led one death.
Given these unprecedented developments, It is also unfortunate that Kenya’s 2020/21 budget called for a huge reduction in the allocation for agriculture, amounting to more than KES 1 billion (around USD 100 million). This move has been vehemently opposed by food systems experts, with many expressing their disappointment that the government did not give due attention to the triple burden of Covid-19, floods, and desert locusts.
In conclusion…
In a highly anticipated announcement on 6 July, the Kenyan government lifted travel restrictions that had been in force since early April. This has triggered a mass movement of people from urban to rural areas, which opens up the possibility that infection and death rates may show a sharp rise. Just as was the case at the onset of the pandemic, it is difficult to predict what will happen in the coming weeks or months, both in terms of the spread of the pandemic, as well as for food systems.
Now, as was the case three months ago, it remains a waiting game. We can only hope that some lessons have been learned and that future experiences will reveal more of the “good” than the “bad’ or “ugly” consequences of the pandemic.
Written by Atula Owade
This article is part of Covid-19 Food/Future, an initiative under TMG ThinkTank for Sustainability’s SEWOH Lab project (https://www.tmg-thinktank.com/sewoh-lab). It aims at providing a unique and direct insight into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on national and local food systems. Also follow @CovidFoodFuture, our Video Diaries From Nairobi, and @TMG_think on Twitter. Funding for this initiative is provided by BMZ, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
