‘We might not heal the world today but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, an act of kindness’ – Mary Davis
The whole landmass looks bare, but still so promising seeing a few resilient shrubs scattered all over. From a bird’s eye view, the whole area looks almost desolate. One would expect to be confronted by a gloomy, hopeless, dejected populace; until you land to very exultant, energized and jolly women, most bearing kids on their backs. Aback!
My journey, in the company of my Education Cabinet Secretary Colleague Hon. Ezekiel Machogu began in Wajir, ostensibly my maiden time to have fasthand encounter with the locals since my tour of duty as the Minister in charge of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Overwhelming welcome by a populace weakened by starvation but upbeat with an attitude of hope and admirable resilience.
It’s imperative to get the real picture of the Northern Frontier as currently presented by the National Drought Management Authority, the outfit charged with the coordination of matters drought risk management and establishment of mechanisms, either on its own or with stakeholders, with a view to ending drought emergencies in Kenya. The recent reports paint a despondent image from the poor performance of the October/December 2022 short rains and prevailing hot and dry conditions continue to exacerbate impacts of drought in the country.
At least two months ago, 22 Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties gravitated towards drought stress along with pockets in 9 non-ASAL counties in Mt. Kenya, Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria regions. As shared by the local leadership in the counties visited thus far, the drought situation has been complicated further by the rising frequency of insecurity flare-ups especially in Turkana, Samburu, Narok, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kitui, Meru and Garissa. In addition, there is an increase of human-wildlife conflicts in places bordering protected areas as well as constant risk of fire outbreaks.
The impact of yet another failure of the 2022 short rains on the food and nutrition security situation in the country has thrust the country into a situation that depicts a ‘gloomy’ scenario. Close to 6 million people in both ASAL areas and in hitherto 9 non-ASALs now face food insecurity. The prevailing drought situation has exposed 970,000 children under 5 years as well 142,000 pregnant and lactating mothers to malnutrition that calls for lifesaving interventions.
Wajir County is currently at Alarm Phase with a worsening trend having experienced below-average rains during the five previous consecutive seasons. According to the Assessment of the 2022 Short rains conducted in January 2023, the food security situation in the county is classified as Crisis or Phase 3 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, with over 478,900 people currently food insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance. Of course, we remain optimistic that the this year’s anticipated long rains will be a success.
This aforementioned situation has had adverse effects on the key economic sectors and livelihoods; livestock body condition has deteriorated due to poor forage and diminished water resources. This has resulted to high livestock migration within and outside the county and significant translocation from the affected areas. This has affected social aspect as well due to the unanticipated movements.
The only hope for access to water here are boreholes for both domestic and livestock use. Other sources of water include water pans, shallow wells and trucked water. The trekking distance for livestock from grazing areas to watering points in January 2023 stood at an average of 16.5 km from 15.5 km. It is still not guaranteed.
Drying rivers, strong winds and sweltering heat welcomes us to Lodwar, Turkana County, our third destination. Our consultations with the local leaders both from the County Government and political class provide an array of hope. It encourages to hear how the future looks as the leaders give strategic long-term interventions to avert such crisis.
Our visit to check on the transition to Junior Secondary School led us to St. Monicah Girl’s Primary, where enthusiastic, energic and girls full of vitality welcome us. Their demeanour, in spite of the inclement weather was notably encouraging. Happy to note the amount of food in their stores, with my colleague Waziri Machogu promising subsequent supplies in the coming days.
With all stakeholders, spearheaded by the Red cross we distributed rice, beans, fuel for aiding water distribution to the hunger-stricken locals.
In all these encounters, one thing was so consistent; hope and face of perseverance as women and children look so upbeat even as they silently register appreciation to the Government and other agencies, without whose support things would have been harder-I felt the warmth from their hearts! We sought to give assurance, as directed by the H.E the President that the Government will do all it takes to ensure no single life is lost and children remain in school.
Mine was an experience; especially from my previous roles in Government to interacting directly with people’s personal welfare; I couldn’t ask for more; the hugs from the women in that small dusty village in Lodwar, to the smiles from the girls in ICF Primary School in Wajir warms my heart and energizes us to do all we can as we seek to improve their lives.
Fully aware of the depleting effects of climate change caused by global warming, and as we seek to continue offering humanitarian aid to save lives, I kept asking myself, what next??
Interacting with issues around “Transformation of Upland to Irrigated Agriculture through Use of Water Harvesting in Mexico and Nicaragua” (2008–2012) and similar materials might be something we need to seriously give a thought.
In my view, reviewing the Literature, may aid in scaling up of water-harvesting technology, to irrigation and validation of improved crop management practices for attaining high yields may just be the way to go. Water harvesting is a sustainable and profitable alternative for small-scale farmers to guarantee an irrigation water supply even in dry season. As such, equipping farmers with this technology would prepare them to confront periodic droughts without suffering losses in their fields as they also leverage in diversified crop production
Its high time that institutions of higher learning also encouraged disciplines that would escalate functional research, especially home-grown studies that address Climate related issues and the challenges therein, especially on matters revolving g around Climate Information Ecology.
As I sign off, I wish to celebrate those women from the ASAL areas, for always giving hope to those little, great Kenyans, if only all my fellow country men could emulate that sense of resilience, gratitude and optimism maybe we could be in a better place. Kudos my heroines!!
Rebecca Miano, MBS
Ministry of East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development
