Drought in Marsabit: A Story of Hope and Collaboration

Many of us have read or heard about the devastating drought in Marsabit, Kenya, that has left the community in dire straits. The situation is dire, with no consistent rain in over two years, forcing children out of school, young girls into marriage, women walking up to 40km in search of food and water, and cattle dying, leaving carcasses strewn everywhere. It is a dire situation that requires urgent attention and intervention.

One man who could not stand idly by and watch as his community suffered is a young man from Marsabit. After completing his degree in Applied Computing and Statistics from Moi University, he decided to return home to his village in Loiyangalani (Mt.Kulal) to support his family in the drought situation. He witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the drought on his community, especially on vulnerable groups like women and children.

Determined to make a difference, he sought help from his mentor, Michael Onyango, the founder of 4BM, which runs Kenya’s largest trusted WhatsApp platform that shares free socio-economic resources with the forgotten bottom millions. Michael introduced him to Sheena Raikundalia, who was looking for a cause to support on behalf of her father, Mukesh Raikundalia, who had recently passed away peacefully in his sleep in London. Her family had raised some money and decided to help get food to the people in Marsabit.

The group encountered a challenge familiar to many Kenyan farmers: food waste. Logistics, transport, and unscrupulous brokers make it expensive for farmers to sell their produce, leading to waste. However, the group saw an opportunity in the waste and decided to get food that would otherwise be discarded to Marsabit.

Controltech Limited, a logistics and fleet management company in Kenya, stepped up to provide financial support and transport services. In addition, Eldakk Logistics Company offered to transport the food to Marsabit. The group also got support from Afarmers media, which provided a platform for farmers to share with fellow farmers, and they managed to get donations from farmers in their network.

Thanks to these collaborative efforts, the group delivered 2000 cabbages and 2500 kgs of cereals (beans, rice, and maize) to 245 households, feeding over 2400 people. The food will last them for at least one week.

This is a story of hope and collaboration in the face of adversity. It shows that even in the most challenging situations, we can make a difference when we come together and work towards a common goal. It also highlights the importance of reducing food waste, especially in countries like Kenya, where food insecurity is a persistent problem.

As we celebrate the success of this intervention, let us not forget the many other communities in Kenya and other parts of the world that are facing similar challenges. Let us continue to support each other and work towards creating a more sustainable and equitable world for all.