Africa report
Kenya: in Turkana, women organize themselves to meet their needs [3/5]
Audio 02:02
Burning charcoal.
It is increasingly sold on the roadsides of Turkana.
© CC0 Pixabay/Kerstin Riemer
By: Albane Thirouard
2 mins
The drought in Kenya has had a severe impact on livestock, and therefore weakened the food balance of communities that traditionally depend on animal husbandry for food.
As long droughts have become more and more recurrent in recent years, residents are gradually turning to alternative means to meet their needs.
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From our special correspondent in Turkana,
Once the heat of the day has subsided, Awesit Meriye leaves her home, her baby on her back.
Direction the fallen tree a few meters further and from which smoke escapes.
She is burning it to make charcoal.
“
I take pieces of branches, add smaller twigs and pile them up.
When it forms a heap, I put the still hot ashes on it, I also add animal excrement, and I let it all burn.
When it's ready, I shovel the coal like this
.
»
She sells an 80 kilo bag for just over three euros and can produce up to three a week.
Precious income for this mother of six children.
“
It allows me to buy food for the family, often maize flour, then I cook ugali or porridge.
This is the way I found so that everyone can eat.
»
► To read also: Kenya: in Turkana, drought leads to food insecurity
A few kilometers further on, it is on the manufacture of brushes that Paulina Lomulen fell back.
She makes the gesture with ease.
“
Once the leaves have finished drying in the sun, we take them and fold them like this.
Then, we take others to surround the folded sheets and hold them all together.
There you go, it's a broom.
»
Diversify livelihoods
Like Awesit with her coal, Paulina then sells them to motorcycle taxis.
The income is therefore irregular, because it depends on the drivers.
But, like them, the drought in the region has prompted many families to diversify their livelihoods.
Samuel Ekal is the founder of Tupado, a development association for breeders.
For him, “
there are several alternatives to the pastoral way of life: agriculture through irrigation systems based on rivers.
Some engage in petty trade by selling firewood, coal, making baskets or brooms or even collecting gum arabic in the north.
There are also many shepherds who fall back on fishing in Lake Turkana.
»
Signs of their adoption: stalls selling charcoal line the roads of Turkana and baskets and brooms have invaded the markets of Lodwar.
► To read also: Kenya: in Turkana, the impact of drought on livestock
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