11th October, 2011
AMREF Kenya drought update: Long term solutions for sustainable change
As the Maasai community in Loitoktok take stock of the damage caused by the drought that hit the Horn of Africa earlier this year, the population are already beginning to rebuild their lives.
AMREF has been working within the communities in the area to implement drought response and prevention measures, some of which have begun to make an impact.
Lifestyle changes
Perhaps not a reason, but certainly a catalyst to the extent that the drought affected this region, was the community’s traditional way of life. Herding cattle has been the chosen occupation of the Maasai in Loitoktok for decades, and whilst the community can comfortably live off their animals in good weather, drought makes keeping livestock impossible.
Joyce Simon, a resident at Njukini in Rombo division, grew up in a family that depended entirely on livestock. Once drought hit the area, her family was badly affected and she knew that in order to survive, something had to give. “When AMREF came into our community and suggested farming as a way out for us, we were reluctant at first because that was unchartered water for us.”
But after discussions with her husband and some community members, they agreed to be part of the venture. Joyce’s husband agreed to donate part of his land to the initiative and they have now tilled the land and planted crops. AMREF provided the community with a new well, which pumps water to the farm through pipes powered by a generator, in order to help stabilize the irrigation of their new crops.
“I have no regrets, and I am happy,” says Joyce.
Pipeline success
Providing sustainable water sources is the key to ensuring that drought prone regions are protected against the full extent of tragedy that this year’s drought causes.
In the town of Olmapinu, the nearest water point was about 10 kilometers away and the journey there and back would take an entire day. To address this, AMREF dug a 10 kilometre pipeline from Rombo to Olmapinu with seven water points where people from different areas could access water. The community has formed water committees to manage the water points and beneficiaries of the project pay monthly contributions that cover the cost of any repairs to the pipeline. The community members have since extended the pipe themselves by another 7 kilometres to allow the neighbouring population of Tambarare access to clean water.
Challenges
The residents of Olmapinu are not the only ones that are being affected by the drought. Wild animals in the neighbouring Tsavo National Park are also suffering a similar fate and some animals have begun damaging the pipeline to access the water.
The community knows that it is imperative that other long-term solutions are found to help the area – including the vegetation and animals- mitigate the effects of the drought. With this in mind, AMREF has suggested a tree planting initiative to the local school as a medium term measure. The students and teachers got involved in planting trees that in the future will act as a water catchment area, naturally collecting and retaining water for wildlife to benefit from.
Read more about AMREF’s work in drought-ridden Kenya to invest in long-term solutions to reduce the impact of drought on vulnerable communities.
If you would like to support AMREF’s vital drought relief and prevention please donate online.