The prolonged drought in Wajir County has severely disrupted learning, forcing many children to stay home and help their parents search for food and water.
According to the latest report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), nearly 90 per cent of water sources in Wajir have dried up due to failed rains. The scorching sun and worsening conditions have led to a surge in school dropouts, with hunger forcing children to abandon their studies.
“How do you expect a starving child to go to school when they have to walk 20 kilometres in search of water?” posed Ali Jilalo, a village elder in Habaswein, Wajir South.
Jilalo explained that residents endure long treks to the few remaining water points. Those unable to make the journey must buy a 20-litre jerrycan of water for between Ksh 100 and Ksh 150, delivered by donkeys, camels, motorcycles, or water trucks.
Despite some drizzles recently, the situation remains dire as the parched land has yet to recover. The cracked, sun-baked ground offers no relief, and vegetation remains lifeless.
“As a result, the county has lost tens of thousands of livestock to famine and drought, affecting the livelihoods of nearly 200,000 residents,” said Jilalo, expressing concern that if the situation worsens, even more children will drop out of school.
The hardest-hit students are in lower grades and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) classes.
Residents now appeal to well-wishers, the county government, and the national government for food and water relief.
“We need long-term solutions, including the construction of water dams and boreholes, to ensure sustainable water supply and improve vegetation for livestock,” said Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir.
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The governor highlighted fears of conflict over boundaries, which prevent herders from moving in search of pasture. With no alternative grazing land, the ongoing drought continues to cripple the local economy.
“Our livestock are too weak to produce milk, and their market value has plummeted. Many struggle to sell them, as they may not even survive the journey to the market under this relentless heat,” he lamented.
The crisis has left many families unable to afford food, forcing children to drop out of school. The governor warned that many may never return to class, with girls at risk of early marriage and boys likely to become herders in search of pasture and water
Fatuma Kinzi Abass of the Pastoralist Girls Initiative compared the ongoing drought to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that both have triggered a rise in gender-based violence.
“Financial struggles have left many husbands frustrated, leading to domestic violence. Women spend hours searching for food and water while their spouses complain about the lack of money at home,” she said.
As the drought persists, the future remains uncertain for thousands of families in Wajir. Without urgent intervention, the crisis could worsen, leaving lasting scars on the education and well-being of the region’s children.
By Dennis Amoto.
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