A desert turned oasis

Story by Christine Khavetsa and Martin Karimi

The land where Kalobeyei refugee settlement sits was once a vast plain where gusts of wind often whipped up dust storms that swept away everything in their path. The land was dotted with a handful of thorn trees defying the harsh sun. The land was bone-dry and seemingly uninhabitable — let alone somewhere you could farm.

In four short years, this vast plain has been transformed and is now home to almost 40,000 refugees. Trees and lush gardens dot the spaces between the houses, providing much needed shade for families during the hot days. The settlement is bustling with livelihoods activities, including farming.

Kalobeyei is in the western part of Turkana, one of the driest regions in the northwest of Kenya, bordering South Sudan to the North and Uganda to the West. Traditionally, the local Turkana community relied on keeping livestock to make a living as the harsh climate could not support crop production.

Turning a hazard into a lifeline

Despite Kalobeyei getting little or no rains in a year, heavy rains in the hills across the Ugandan border often resulted in flash flooding — catching herders and refugees unawares.

Surveys carried out in 2018 had shown that the land in Kalobeyei was fertile and with a well-thought out plan, rainwater harvesting was feasible and could support agricultural activities.

With this knowledge and combined expertise, WFP in partnership with the Turkana County Government and the Food and Agricultural Organisation embarked on mapping and establishing water harvesting structures. Kalobeyei settlement was established in 2016 to demonstrate that refugees, given the right tools, can eventually make a living with reduced external assistance.

Today, central to this settlement is a 400 hectare (ha) piece of land set aside for agriculture. Within this, 3 ha are under greenhouses used for vegetable production with water from a pan, and about 180 ha are under water-retaining dry-land farming structures. This land is being used by both refugees and the host community — directly benefiting about 1,000 families.

Reaping plenty when the rains come

Susan Nakei is one of the refugees farming on a half-acre plot. She is a mother of three originally from South Sudan.

“Today, I’m harvesting cowpeas, but I will not cook all of it. I will keep some as seed to plant in the next season. Seeds are not readily available in the market,” explains Susan. “That is why I want to store some of the harvest so that when it rains again, I will be ready to plant.”

WFP in partnership with the county government has distributed more than 6,200 tools and seeds to families that have shown an interest in farming.

When the rains came, these families were quick to plant the cowpeas and sorghum seeds. The water retaining structures set up across the farm kept the soils wet long enough to sustain the crops to maturity. Susan and her family are among 700 families — mostly refugees that planted their crops and have been harvesting vegetables for the last three months.

How the climate has forced people to change their lives

In the desert-like Turkana climate, water harvesting and management is key to the success of livelihoods projects, both for livestock and farming.

Apak Lokuwa is from the local Turkana community and lives in Kangura village, about 4 km from Kalobeyei settlement. She lives with her husband who is blind and their seven children — three of whom have brought their wives to the homestead.

“We have always reared goats and sheep and that is how we get our food,” she says. “One of my son’s herds them so he spends most of his time in the bush tending to the livestock.”

But in 2018, disaster struck. A severe drought descended on the land killing the majority of the animals.

“I lost most of my livestock due to lack of water and pasture,” she says while gazing into the distance. “We all depended on the livestock. No one had a job or business in my family. With the livestock gone, we faced the risk of starvation as no one had food. Life was very difficult. I was in despair.”

Seeds of hope

When WFP completed the water pan in Kalobeyei, Apak was among the first to join the agriculture project planting vegetables in small patches measuring about 5 by 5 metres around the Kalobeyei water pan.

“My life took a positive turn when I started farming. I would grow cowpeas and amaranth to eat at home. This reduced the amount of money I would spend in the market because I only had to buy starch to accompany the vegetables.”

Apak is now growing tomatoes, capsicum and onions having joined the 300 farmers with plots inside the drip-irrigated greenhouse. This is now the largest source of fresh vegetables for the local markets. Apak makes sure she only harvests a small amount every day to keep a steady flow of cash.

“I love farming, both livestock and crops. But it is very difficult to practice consistent and profitable farming in this region due to the frequent long droughts.”

With a constant supply of water, Apak can now grow crops all year round and she has even started adding to her herd of goats again.

“It feels like a miracle. I had never seen this before in my life, I did not even think it was possible. Not in Turkana.”

Peace dividends

Guess what’s for lunch? Fresh greens and posho! Photo: WFP/Christine Khavetsa

Water in Kalobeyei is not just yielding food, but also peace.

Apak has been a member of a committee that supported peaceful coexistence between refugees and the host community living around Kalobeyei, and among the thorny issues was access to water.

“Earlier, the host community did not have adequate water for their livestock and they would bring animals for grazing and in search of water within the Kalobeyei settlement where refugees live,” she explains. “Sometimes the animals would stray and destroy crops and structures belonging to refugees sparking disagreements.”

WFP has now constructed one earth dam and two water pans on the outskirts of Kalobeyei where livestock from the communities around the camps can drink from. Herders from different villages near Kalobeyei no longer clash because each village now has access to water close to them. They also do not have to travel towards the border with Uganda in search for water — a journey that exposed them to conflict with neighbouring tribes.

Leading from the front

Apak is part of the committee that oversees the day-to-day running of the horticulture farm including the water and irrigation system.

“I know that many people are looking up to me and therefore I always conduct the business of the farm with the highest integrity,” she says. “As a role model, I have mobilised and taught many of my community members to take up farming seriously.”

Apak has recently started a small savings group where each member contributes one hundred shillings a day (about US$ 1). After a week, one member takes home the whole kitty in a merry-go-round.

The Kalobeyei self-reliance project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Food Programme in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, Turkana County, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.