Laikipia squatter village facing starvation

Residents of Kinamba Village in Laikipia County are facing starvation as drought ravages the area, forcing locals to depend on odd jobs in nearby ranches.

In the squatter village, young people wake up early in the morning to search for food and water for their kinsmen leaving behind the elderly, women and children.

“The government used to give us relief food like maize and beans, but we haven’t seen such relief in a long time now,” says Michael Ekwom, one of the villagers.

“The drought is too much even our livestock are dying and we have to take them to the neighbouring ranches to feed, but at a fee.”

Ewoi Esma, another Kinamba villager who Citizen Digital interviewed, said his goats died due to the harsh weather, adding that government aid has not reached the remote village in months.

“We last got help from the government in October last year, and until now many months down the line, nothing. Even our children cannot go to school because of hunger and now do odd jobs at the ranch to get something to eat. It’s really terrible,” said Ewoi.

Susan Achotu, seating under a tree weaving a rope, told Citizen Digital she was hoping to sell it for Sh250 so that she could afford food for her children.

“We weave these ropes and sell them for Sh250 to supplement our income. I may even sell stones which ranchers use for building,” said Susan.

Susan said her family often sleeps hungry for lack of money to buy food and she appreciates days when her children go to school for at least they can get a meal a day after government pledged to provide food for all institutions in drought-hit areas.

The situation in the Kinamba Village has been dire for many years. A local pastor, Joseph Ekiru, told Citizen Digital that the last time the villager had had a good meal was probably 10 years ago.

“No one comes here to help us. We hear of other villages getting aid, but we have been forgotten,” said Joseph.

The residents are appealing for food relief and land they can till especially now the drought is biting so hard.