For many years I have been contacting donors and people of good-will, trying to fundraise in view of Humanitarian Intervention in times of severe, prolonged drought which leads to wide spread famine. The issues of famine has been further complicated by insecurity, the depletion of the economy, this is a very real issue as many animals have died in this drought. Leaving families in serious situations of drought and famine. Even if it were to rain, the animals are already dead. The Pokot economy may take years to recover from this drought which has been particularly hard and devastating to this Pastoralist & mostly illiterate community. The plight of the pastoralist, semi-nomadic Pokot who live in this hostile area continues to be ravaged by drought and famine. I write outlining the current situation of drought & famine in the sub-county of East Pokot, (Tiaty Constituency). 

The situation of drought and famine has deteriorated in spite of donors and people of good will, who have responded generously to appeals for assistance in this Humanitarian Crisis.

East Pokot is regularly prone to drought and famine, most people are illiterate, this adds to the difficulties when it comes to development and addressing basic needs. The infrastructure is very poor, the climate is harsh and the mortality rate is high. Water borne diseases are common.

The Pokot people are experiencing one of the worst droughts in the living memory. A few short showers with some significance have come and dried up immediately, partly due to the ground temperature. It has not rained with any significance since October 2016 up this October 2017 when we experienced some heavy rains. Even though it has some-what rained grass is slow as it has really been burned and animals are few after this drought. According to the National Drought Management Authority, (NDMA) People are experiencing real hardship and severe hunger, many have had to resort the eating their animals that have died in this drought. As documented in NDMA report (Early Drought Warning Bulletin) the larger East Pokot is in drought conditions since for over a year now.. The elderly and the young children are the most vulnerable; they have been left behind as the youth have gone with the animals to search for pasture. This leaves the elderly and the children in a very vulnerable situation with diminishing resources. 

One of the many effects of this severe drought that is been experienced at the moment is a problem of huge shortage in water. Rivers are seasonal, river beds are dry. Animals were able to drink from these beds in times of rain. East Pokot has experienced months with few erratic showers. Water dams and pans are drying at a rapid rate partly due to a very high evaporation rate.

The community and their animals are sharing the same water sources. This can lead to disease and outbreaks of Cholera among other water born disease epidemics. People have stopped eating dead meat as it is causing diarrhoea and other stomach problems. This dead meat requires to be boiled for hours, instead people are eating half boiled meat due to lack of water to cook for the required period.

Due to lack of rain leading to insufficient water charge of would-be water resources, people are suffering with no water only dirty contaminated water. At the Kolloa, Nginyang and Tangulbei markets Pokot Farmers are now selling their emaciated livestock at throwaway prices to down country traders.

With very high daily temperatures (C+ 45) and little rains since October 2016 there is a huge problem with severe drought resulting in scarcity of food and water for people and their animals. Barpello Catholic Mission are involved in assisting to draw water using the tractor and 6,000 litre Water Bowser to bring water to some primary/nursery schools. 

One of the biggest problems is the high rate of illiteracy in East Pokot. Because of this illiteracy major problems are experienced in implementing & administrating livelihood and basic needs humanitarian projects. Gender disparity in educational matters is in favor of men. For example, 90% of men have no formal education in East Pokot compared to 96% of women. Going to secondary school are approximately 2% of women and 7% of men.

Last week we thought that the rains had come at last! It is reported that other areas in Kenya are suffering from flooding. Not so for East Pokot. We had about three to four days when temperatures became cooler with erratic showers, the showers were short lived, heavy at times but only for minutes. After these showers it is back to high climatic daily temperatures.

For most Pokot Communities they have lost all their animals due to this prolonged drought. Most cattle/cows have died, goats and camels are suffering from stress with zero milk production.

For the Pokot they have lost their income. Animals are no longer, people are suffering even resulting in death and disease. 

Food is very scarce and very expensive throughout Kenya but mainly felt in areas of and like East Pokot and among the poor. Access to food is hindered by insecurity. Food being brought into East Pokot has been limited due to access roads being closed, lorries with food turned around and even looted.

Education is in a very fragile and volatile situation. For High Schools like Barpello parents are not able to pay modest fees needed to pay staff and administrate the school. Food has become very expensive. The reality of education in East Pokot is in real jeopardy.

Primary schools are slow to open for this the third term. There is no food and little or no water. There is a huge drop-out rate among students in all primary schools. Teachers are few, as most of the teachers come from outside of East Pokot. They have not returned to their school because of insecurity. 147 primary school teachers from outside of East Pokot have left their stations in favour of more peaceful schools in better off areas. This has left Education in East Pokot nearly at a standstill as the qualified Pokot Teachers are few.  

Up to today people are starving, there is a very high rate of malnutrition among the young children, experienced of mobile clinics. Basically there is nothing to eat and people are experiencing severe famine. People, women and children come to the mission every day looking for something to eat and go away with little but not enough for one day.

We are indeed grateful to you for taking interest in us. Whatever you can afford to give we will be grateful. 90kg of maize can be delivered to this remote area for up to KShs 4,000/=.

With Thanks.

(If you wish donate or would like to contact Fr. David Conway, please Contact Us for more information)