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Response To Drought In Kenya
by Nigel Ring
Brighton, UK
1984, 1994, 2001, 2005 - drought. 1997 - floods. Weather patterns in the Horn of Africa are changing, as they are around the world. Yet for those living on the precipice of imminent disaster, global and other meteorological changes are of little interest. For them the issue is 'where is the next meal for my children coming from?'
In December 2005 I received an urgent call from Edward Buria, leader of the 140 Newfrontiers churches in Kenya, most of which he has planted. 'Nigel, we face a disaster. The rains have failed in October and December and many of our people are starving. We are determined to feed them - can you help?' At that stage nothing had been mentioned in the public media despite the local Early Warning System which had predicted disaster for several weeks – it was not until 31 December that even the Kenyan government admitted they had
a problem and appealed for help.
Massive need
Immediately we donated £10,000 to add to the generosity already shown by the churches in Kenya. However, as the scale of the crisis began to emerge – twelve million in the Horn, four million in Kenya – it was clear that a massive sum would be needed, especially as any feeding programme would need to last at least six months, possibly much longer, until the next possible harvest. And that was dependent upon substantial rain coming in March and April, a hope that proved to be ill-founded.
The need was particularly acute in the semi-arid desert region of Samburu where there are thirteen Newfrontiers tribal churches. Edward felt the initial response should focus on their own church people and those in their communities, probably 2-3000. Clearly, they were not equipped to take on a major relief effort for the wider community.
Mainly pastoralist people, who are semi-nomadic as they travel to find pasture for their goats, cows and sheep, the Samburu faced disaster as their livestock died. Even their camels and pack donkeys, normally survivors even under these harsh conditions, were not immune this time. Text messages began to arrive describing appalling and heart-rending conditions as Edward and his team travelled widely. They were emotionally shredded as they saw animal carcasses by the roadside and were told of many human deaths.
Seven primary feeding stations were opened in Samburu and elsewhere, distributing maize, beans, sugar and the highly nutritious Unimix for the most vulnerable – the under fives, the elderly and lactating women. These stations acted as hubs to serve a further 40 or so sub-stations. Rapidly the number of recipients of food aid in the communities around the churches grew until it passed 10,000. Contact with other Newfrontiers churches revealed severe malnutrition in Tharaka, Mbeere and even the Rift Valley at the foot of Mount Kenya.
Generous giving
A DVD was circulated to the Newfrontiers churches around the world depicting the nature of the crisis. The response was staggering, donations arriving from parts of the world who often live in deep poverty themselves. What pleasure the Lord must have felt as he saw the sacrificial generosity of his children, reminiscent of New Testament times when the Macedonian believers ‘overflowed in liberality’ out of their own extreme poverty as they gave to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem.
In early June I had the privilege of visiting several of these feeding stations and to witness the love and compassion of Edward's dedicated team, led by his brother John, as they stood with their tribal brothers and sisters. Not only were they distributing food to sustain life but also ministering through temporary clinics to the medical needs which were exacerbated by malnutrition.
Planning for the future
What about the future? The immediate future looks bleak; worse is probably yet to come as no rains are expected until November. Meanwhile the maize and sorghum, millet and beans which were planted in some parts when a little rain fell in March are now dying long before there is any possibility of harvest.
In due course three considerations must be addressed. First, how to transition people, eventually, from dependency on handouts. Second, how to encourage fresh thinking and action for people to help themselves and prepare for what inevitably will occur again in a few years. Third, to explore solutions that will provide some cushion against the rapid development of such crises in
the future.
The church cannot solve such worldwide problems alone. However, we do believe that we should be at the forefront of advocating for those who live on the margins of life itself. We need to encourage sustainable solutions where these can be found. It is encouraging to know that Edward has regular contact as an advisor with high level government officials in Kenya.
Saving Water
What are some of the steps that can be taken to help cushion the effects of drought? Water in some regions is very limited even in good years. In Samburu, average rainfall is only 250-350 mm and this comes in two main bursts causing the rivers to flood for perhaps one week twice per year and then to dry up. The challenge is to 'harvest' this water. Some is retained naturally in dips in the underlying rock formation and tribes-people dig into the sandy river bed to find it. Bore holes are also possible in some areas, though these have to be at least 200 metres deep, an expensive drilling process. Other means of water provision are also being considered such as tanks to catch the run off from rock faces where topography allows.
Generating income
For the individual family, income generation is the challenge. Traditionally they have sold cows and goats to provide wealth in order to feed and clothe their families and send their children to school. But drought is a killer and can remove this source of income within a few months. Other sources of income may be possible by helping set up small craft-based businesses for tourists, perhaps working as cooperatives in order to market their wares. Other ventures may include small posha mills to grind the maize, maize flour being less water-consuming when cooking than preparing maize as a vegetable. Training to grow drought-resistant crops is also being undertaken by some, though this requires a significant change in their traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle.
Through all these challenges Edward and his teams are looking for the Kingdom to advance. Prayer underpins all their efforts to bless the communities and the gospel is being shared at the feeding stations. Clearly there is always the danger of 'rice Christians', those who apparently profess faith in response to the food being given to them. However, there are clear conversions. I well remember talking to a teenage wife and mother of three about her lifestyle. Expecting to hear about the challenges of collecting water and wood for cooking, and the daily pressures experienced as a result of the drought, she radiantly told me that she wakes each morning grateful to Jesus for life and that He will walk through each day with her. This young woman, who has had little education, had discovered that 'the joy of the Lord was her strength' and that He would never leave her nor forsake her. What a testimony!
THANKS AND WELL DONE!
By Edward Buria, Kenya
Speaking to our brothers and sisters at Kambakia Christian Centre recently on stewardship, I told them that three words are very important upon the completion of our earthly life, that is hearing Jesus Himself telling us WELL DONE, THANKS, FAITHFUL servant.
Thinking through the amazing and generous response we have had from God's family, both within the Newfrontiers family and those outside Newfrontiers, since the breaking of the devastating drought/famine in Kenya, I can only say THANKS, WELL DONE for being great FAITHFUL stewards with the resources entrusted into your care. Through such wonderful stewardship many lives have been saved, loved and cared for.
In the centres where relief supplies are being distributed, we are encountering people with life and hope as compared to the end of 2005 and beginning of 2006 when we were used to terrible scenes of death and hopelessness everywhere we went. The problem is still with us, as we will keep on feeding several thousands for a few more months before the situation can stabilise and we begin phasing out slowly and surely as we undertake efforts that are meant to bring more permanent solutions. Let me wholeheartedly say to all our dear friends across the nations, ‘THANKS AND WELL DONE, FAITHFUL STEWARDS!’
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