This comes after the Kenyan Government declared a national disaster following a third consecutive failed rainfall season in eastern and northern Kenya. Many communities are now experiencing critical drought conditions, with Marsabit county in northern Kenya one of the most affected regions in the country. The current extreme rainfall on the back of drought conditions makes for intense flooding. 

The livelihoods of pastoralist communities in Marsabit is highly dependent on consistent and predictable rainfall to harvest their crops and keep livestock alive. Many communities in Marsabit have reported increased severity and frequency of droughts in recent years, which have led to livestock deaths and crop failure.  

Additionally, climate change has exacerbated the risks for vulnerable communities in northern Kenya, with rising temperatures, heat waves and changes in seasonal rainfall wreaking havoc across the country. The drought is threatening to reverse years of progress in poverty reduction across Kenya as the food crisis, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and extreme weather events push the most at-risk communities further into poverty.   

As a pastoralist, Talaso relies entirely on her livestock for meat, milk and income generation. But the prolonged drought currently striking Kenya, has meant that she no longer has enough livestock to sell and earn income to buy food and pay for her children’s education.   

Like many people in her community, Talaso is dependent on humanitarian aid to access food and clean water.   

“I wish I had enough to make sure that my children are comfortable. To make sure that some of them go to school and get a good education,” Talaso said. 

“It's very difficult to balance between providing food and water and paying school fees. Because getting the food and water is expensive. And you need school fees to send children school, so this is a very difficult situation.”