Not a single drop of rain in Wajir

By Lucy Murunga, Communications Officer-WV Kenya

May 16, 2012…Heavy rains have been pounding in most parts of Kenya since March, a break from the long cycle of last year’s dry spell. The heavy and persistent rains have also resulted in widespread flooding that has left a trail of destructions and death.

But in Wajir, in the northeastern part of Kenya, the lands remain dry. The Kenya Meteorological Department in early March predicted a below normal rainfall for the March to May “long rains” season for Wajir, not even a single drop of the treasured rain has since been recorded.

In Habaswein district where World Vision -Wajir South area development project works, residents are growing desperate, fearing for the worst dry spell. The entire population of about 77,080 people is affected including children.

According to Jacob Alemu, Project Manager, Wajir South, residents of Habaswein are already desperately asking for water trucking to begin.

“This is very worrying, the situation could only get worse in the coming months as the pastures get depleted and the few water sources remaining run dry,” Jacob warns.

“The greatest and urgent need is water, the main sources of water in the area are natural dams and excavated water pans, but these have all since dried up while the few boreholes available cannot serve the entire population affected,” explains Jacob.

In addition, diminishing water sources have also increased trekking distances to the water points as some of the settlements are very far from the water sources.

Daniel Nduti, the district commissioner for Wajir South is appealing especially for emergency water interventions warning the water situation could only worsen.

“The general situation is currently not alarming, however if no measures are taken, then we could be staring at a major disaster in the coming months especially July, August and September,” Daniel explains.

Daniel repeatedly mentions that thirst is weighing hard on the residents, emphasizing the need for providing clean water for drinking.

But it is not only the water situation that is of great concern. Food too, is causing much worry. The Commissioner says food is available but very expensive with a kilogram of rice-the community’s staple food- retailing at USD2, an amount too costly for the poor and struggling residents.

The next rains are expected in November but this is not certain as the trend is changing. “With climate change you may receive rains when you do not expect them, but if we go by the usual trend, the people of Wajir do not expect any rains even as the end of the long rains season draws near,” Jacob explains.

Esther Nyambura a World Vision Kenya Program Officer for the Horn of Africa response to the drought warns that by the end of August there could be no food to eat for the already food stressed residents whose lifeline-livestock- are under threat from diminishing water and pasture.

The October-December short rains improved foliage and pasture for the livestock dependent pastoralists of Wajir, but the resources are rapidly diminishing, and competition for the few remaining food and water sources is looming large.

As a result, the project has initiated a special meeting with its partners, the district steering group (DSG), which is the technical arm of the government on disasters at the local level and other agencies to see how best to mobilize resources and share out roles to help the stressed community.

“We also plan to conduct a needs assessment and plan to develop a concept paper for emergency water interventions in the settlements where there is greater need because the funding we have is not sufficient to conduct a major response,” Jacob notes.