Focus on Kenya

The report identifies four critically stressed ecosystem services in Kenya: maintenance of biodiversity, food and fibre provision, water supply, purification and regulation, and fuel provision. These stresses are present across nearly all provinces, directly threatening the ability of the population to be adequately nourished, access clean water, obtain energy for cooking and warmth, and earn a livelihood. The document highlights a critical cycle where environmental degradation, such as deforestation and soil fertility loss, exacerbates poverty, particularly for women and children who bear the burden of gathering scarce resources.

• Four ecosystem services are identified as critically stressed across Kenya: maintenance of biodiversity, food and fibre provision, water supply, purification and regulation, and fuel provision.
• Biodiversity is declining due to habitat loss from small-holder agriculture, wood extraction, and infrastructure development, with 50 endangered and 21 critically endangered species in the country.
• Kenya faces chronic food insecurity and a food deficit, driven by erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and a downward trend in the production of key crops like maize and beans.
• Water scarcity is widespread, with 50 per cent of households lacking access to safe drinking water and internal renewable water resources failing to meet population demands.
• Woodfuel accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all energy consumed in Kenya, but is becoming increasingly scarce due to deforestation driven by tea processing, timber markets, and urban demand.
• Poverty is widespread, with a national incidence of 52 per cent; women constitute over 50 per cent of the total poor and are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of water and fuel.
• Ecosystem services and well-being constituents are stressed in all provinces except Nyanza and Western, though the latter two still face high poverty levels and localized food insecurity.

APA

Wong, C., Roy, M., & Duraiappah, D. A. K. (2005). Focus on Kenya. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_kenya.pdf

Chicago

Wong, Carissa, Marlene Roy, and Dr. Anantha Kumar Duraiappah. Focus on Kenya. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_kenya.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wong |first1=Carissa |last2=Roy |first2=Marlene |last3=Duraiappah |first3=Dr. Anantha Kumar |title=Focus on Kenya |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_kenya.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wong2005focus, author = {Wong, Carissa and Roy, Marlene and Duraiappah, Dr. Anantha Kumar}, title = {{Focus on Kenya}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_kenya.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }