The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that over 100 million people are threatened with starvation worldwide due to food scarcity, rising commodity prices and poverty. Kenya, like many other developing countries of the world is currently faced with an acute shortage of strategic grain reserves. Thus, majority of its citizens are threatened with imminent starvation unless urgent measures are taken to mitigate the situation. The first two months of this year (2008) witnessed post-election violence arising out of the disputed presidential elections held in December 2007. The violence resulted in the deaths of over 1300 people and displacement of over 500,000 others from their homes. This disruption affected agricultural production and distribution chains for essential
commodities including food items, thereby pushing their prices up. It is estimated that prices of essential commodities in Kenya have increased by more than 50 percent in the last six months making it difficult for ordinary Kenyans to afford a decent meal three times a day. This study evaluates the extent of poverty and food insecurity in Kenya. The analysis is done at the household level. Results indicate that many households are food insecure not only on account of commodity price increases but also due to other non-price determinants. Food insecure households adopted different coping strategies ranging form skipping meals to surviving on wild fruits and wild animals. Based on these findings, policy intervention measures are suggested.