It’s a market day in the dusty town of Isiolo in the Eastern part of Kenya. The loud haggling and hawking that characterise the market is evidently missing with only a few pastoralists try to sell their emaciated heads of cattle. A kilometre away from the market, carcases of dead livestock can be seen littered all over.
Abdi Kuti, 56, a pastoralist from Isiolo has brought his remaining four heads of cattle to sell but no one has given him an offer for the last three hours he has been at the market. The prices of cattle in the region have decreased drastically as a result of poor pastures cover due to three years of failed rainfall.
“No one buys cattle here anymore, they are too weak and emaciated to even slaughter. I have lost 300 heads of cattle this year and was hoping I could get a few coins to buy my wife some medicine. Cows that used to be sold at Kshs 30,000 (384 dollars) is now going for Ksh 300(3.84dollars),”
says Abdi with desperation showing on his face.
"My wife has been ailing and I don’t have any source of income or livelihood other than this four heads of cattle. If I don’t manage to sell them, I will just leave them here since they are too weak to make a return journey home 30 kilometres away.” Added Abdi.
Isiolo district has been one of the most drought stricken areas in Kenya as a result of three consecutive years of failed rain. All the streams that flow in the district have since dried up save for one which is over utilised by the communities living in the area. Overstocking coupled with cutting down of trees for charcoal have further compounded the climatic conditions of the district.
Rose Itao, 30, a mother of four arrives at her mud walled hut in Chumviyere location, Isiolo East District with her 7 month baby on her back and polythene bag on her hand. She is just from gathering gum from Arabica tree barks eight kilometres away. The baby cries incessantly from hunger and the soaring mid day heat. She tries to breastfeed the baby but she has run dry of milk as a result of dehydration and hunger.
“My family has not eaten a proper meal for a week now, we have been feeding on gum from tree barks and gathering wild fruits called ‘epulet’ eight kilometres away. I am not strong and the only meal my seven month old baby can take is my milk which has failed me in the last few weeks”. Said Rose while still trying to breastfeed young Itao.
Rose’s husband left the home four months ago with all their herd of cattle in search of pasture and he has not communicated with them since. Rose is a beneficiary of the ActionAid relief Emergency Operation (EMOP) initiative but the food she is given can only go for 10 days in a month.
My children have been forced to drop out of school to help me look for food and firewood for selling.
The number of beneficiaries under the EMOP programme currently stands at 43,110 people. Many more are going hungry and according to the latest World Food Programme (WFP) projections, a further 27,100 will be added to next month’s distribution list.
“WFP has since reduced its food ration and we are afraid we will not be able to support all the beneficiaries without reducing individual ration levels. Deaths from hunger will soon start happening in the area if help is not forthcoming,” Said Mohamed Ahmed, ActionAid EMOP officer.
The security situation in the area as a result of scarcity of resources has also made access to food a potentially fatal exercise. In the past one week, three women have been killed while gathering the wild fruits and looking for water. ActionAid have also started contracting armed escorts when distributing relief food.