WSPA’s Mission in Kenya Following his video documentation of Kenya’s Mwingi District, recorded whilst on the ground in Kenya’s drought-stricken Mwingi district, WSPA vet and Disaster Veterinary Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean Sergio Vasquez sent us a written account of his experience.
“We are in this beautiful country, where water and pasture are lacking but the people’s will to survive still remains. In the district of Mwingi, we were able to appreciate the conditions that people and animals are living in; sharing water wells that are more than six kilometres away. The shepherds in other areas have to travel distances of 40 km, which strains the physical condition of both animals and owners.
In a dried-up river bed, we found a small amount of water still there, which had initiated conflict among villagers and even violence. The shepherds argued with other farmers trying to retrieve water for their crops. At the same time, people working in construction-related activities try to remove the sand in the dried-up river. These differing needs have caused fights among tribal groups.
During the evaluation, we visited a border-zone between Somalia and Kenya, home to the Khamba tribe. In spite of the warnings in the media of conflicts between shepherds, we encountered a very different reality; a survival strategy called ‘humanity’. Both communities learnt to help each other in the daily struggle for food. They have agreed on an exchange of labour for water and on the leasing of wells. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been enough to prevent the drought conditions taking the lives of 100 donkeys, 1,100 goats and 30 bovines, which have died of respiratory diseases.
We also visited one of the largest centres for water distribution, a well drilled by the government to a depth of 500 feet that uses a gas-powered water pump. This increases the cost for the shepherds who have to pay two Kenyan shillings per animal, which equates to one US dollar for every 40 animals – this may not sound like a lot, but it is a significant amount for these families.
The main problem we encountered was animals dying of fatigue and respiratory diseases, having to walk long distances without food. The shepherds have been feeding them a vegetable called ‘thubas’, but it too is scarce.
Water is vital for survival, but food is also lacking. As far as the human population’s eye can see, the only view is red sand, which has forced people to migrate with their animals to other locations, situated up to 150 km from any town. We trust this evaluation will be starting point in the development of a new structure that allows the Kenyan people to diversify their livelihoods and avoid conflicts with each other.”
SERGIO VASQUEZ
We will be keep you updated on the emergency intervention we will make in the district in the coming weeks.
