Hundreds of Turkana pastoralists are living in abject misery after being forced to return from Uganda. The pastoralists, who had moved to the border town of Lokiriama in Loima sub-county, were ordered out by the Ugandan government following a security operation in response to the killing of government officials.
Michael Etoot, a 35-year-old pastoralist, told Nyakundi Report that he is slowly losing his livestock since returning to Lomokori village, on the Kenya-Uganda border, due to the severe drought that is still affecting Turkana. “Not all of us knew of the attack, as it was alleged by the Ugandan authorities. We are serving undeserved punishment,” he said.
The drought in Turkana has left pastoralists in a dilemma, with many struggling to find pasture for their livestock. They also complain of a lack of water, forcing them to trek for over 14 km daily to the border town of Lokiriama. Women have been particularly affected, as they are forced to search and carry luggage for their families with little help from men.
Elizabeth Naibach, a resident of Lomokori village, said that she was forced to cut short her stay in Uganda and move back to the border with her three children, leaving behind her husband who was arrested by Ugandan authorities. “Since Ugandan authorities issued the order, I have never seen my husband. It is too hard to stay here, our livestock was stolen owing to the rush to beat the deadline,” she explained.
The residents have also complained of a lack of medical services and schools for their school-going children. “We have been encouraged to take children to school so that we can secure their future, but unfortunately, there are no schools here,” Naibach added.
Loita Ekadeli, the vice-chairman of the village, has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni to organize diplomatic talks to allow Kenyans to return to Uganda to save their livestock. “We pastoralists have really felt the effect of drought in Turkana. We want to be allowed back to Uganda to graze our animals,” he appealed.
The Pastoralist Community Initiative Development Assistance (PACIDA) has since come to the rescue of residents by donating relief food. Each family receives 10 kg of maize, 7 kg of beans, 5 kg of maize flour, and one litre of vegetable oil. “Turkana people are really suffering, and we call upon other stakeholders to lend their hands to save the lives of these pastoralists,” said PACIDA programme manager Samwel Lentor.
