This is an appeal to help donate Maize, Beans, Cooking Oil, Rice and logistical support towards the 800,000 population in Baringo County earmarked as under starvation by Kenyan Government due to drought. Nine people are reported to have lost their lives in Baringo County from biting hunger, bringing death toll from hunger related incidents. The donated food is urgently needed to help the sickly, weak, and emaciated people. They lost their livestock in a six year running long drought.
Pokots depend on pastoralism as livelihood due to limited access to livelihood assets like human, financial, social and physical capital. Over 90% lack business-related skills. Vulnerable and traditionally under-represented groups have insufficient access to economic opportunities. Absolute Poverty rate is 67%. Students engage in pastoral activities. Without good basic education, they have little chance of escaping extreme poverty. Our sponsored students achieve 100% transition rate.
The appeal for food is to help mitigate further loss of lives in the affected areas in Baringo County. The situation is worsening with more and more people facing starvation. The National Drought Management Agency's (NDMA) shows that Baringo County is currently experiencing a severe drought that has affected the majority of residents who are now in need of food aid. The food aid will preserve the lives of children, the elderly, mothers and the most affected by the current drought.
Education is the only sustainable way to empower Pokots and development East Pokot instead of dropping out of school to cattle rustling, early/forced marriages among other negative coping mechanism. Pokot children like the rest in Kenya can pursue careers to become social workers, doctors, teachers, economists etc. Given education opportunities these children undoubtedly will become leaders and agents of change in their communities thus reduction in illiteracy and cycle of extreme poverty.
