Saving for the Future

Development Officer in the Kenya West Territory, Hudson Mouhaliar, shares how The Salvation Army is partnering with communities in Turkana County on an integrated project.

In the northwest region of Kenya, approximately 700 km from the capital city of Nairobi, is Turkana County – a remote and arid landscape where drought is common.

Turkana, like other arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya, has a long history of marginalisation from both the colonial and post-colonial administrations. Due to prolonged isolation and under-investment, the region is prone to conflict and insecurity – a situation exacerbated by recurrent droughts and unpredictable rainfall.

Reports from the Kenya National Statistics Office suggest that 88 per cent of people in Turkana live below the poverty line, compared to the 45 per cent national average. Furthermore, illiteracy is high with only half the school-age children in Turkana enrolled in primary school, while the adult literacy rate is just 20 per cent.

In this context, the ability to adapt to extreme weather and long-term changes is crucial to maintaining traditional livelihoods in the region.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Kenya for just over a century. In 2008, the Kenya Territory was divided into two and the Kenya East Territory and Kenya West Territory were created. Kenya West Territory has partnered with the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory for more than 10 years on community development projects to address the specific challenges of water scarcity, material poverty and food insecurity.

Our experience through previous projects shows that the water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) component in schools and communities has proven successful, along with the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) which have contributed to economic justice for women. These projects have not only been well supported by community members but also owned by them.

We are currently one year into the most recently established project which aims to improve access to water and sanitation for schools and communities in Lokitaung and Kaeris, as well as increasing income opportunities for women in these locations.

Whilst the first few months of the project were impacted by prolonged drought and a general election, a number of VSLAs were established. Group members were able to set up small businesses such as selling cereals and other household goods, and the making and selling of liquid soap proved successful.

As with many WASH projects, an integrated approach has been adopted to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of the project. For example, alongside the structural interventions of installing water storage tanks and solar equipment, schools have established health clubs that teach students about keeping the environment clean, proper waste disposal and general health and hygiene.

Another thread that runs through the project is gender equality; the projects have an all-inclusive approach, and both men and women are actively engaged in all project activities, with equal opportunities to take up leadership positions on committees. This collaboration and co-operation brings good results and enhances the project.

Meliza Ekuwom (34) lives in Lokitaung with her husband and seven children. She shared how she got involved with The Salvation Army and the project.

‘Our life was simple. We lived for today without knowing what is going to happen next.

Before the project, we were busy doing domestic work and earning income by selling charcoal, firewood, or traditional wooden seats that we had made (ekicholong).

We had previously presented our problems to our county government and some of our problems were solved, but not all. We received training on farming from non-governmental organisations. The Salvation Army came alongside and trained us in making liquid soap and we received soap kits to get us started.

Through training with The Salvation Army we also gained skills and knowledge on how to do group saving. We can then borrow from the group with low interest. We have begun to think about the future, not only today.

I am hopeful that I will continue to learn a lot and I will have a better future. With the income-generating activities I am involved in, my children will all go to school, my family will have at least two meals day. We will have clothing, medication and shelter.

The project will have a great effect on our community and we are very glad to have this project implemented in our community.’

In overwhelmingly arid landscapes such as that of Turkana, famine is frequent. The felling of trees to burn charcoal is a common practice as people try to survive with the scarce resources. Yet this environmental degradation negatively impacts access to food, water and energy, with women and children being disproportionately affected by food shortage. The implications on children’s health and the resulting increase in malnutrition have led to more children dropping out of school.

Therefore, as part of the project, community conversations are taking place to bring about a change in mindset. This is coupled with helping communities to explore other sources of income - such as VSLAs and small kitchen gardening - to reduce the reliance on traditional income-generating practices like the burning and selling of charcoal.

Community ownership is central to this project and will be an important factor in helping it to succeed. Even once the project comes to a close, VSLAs will continue and give group members financial security. With improved savings practices and increased household incomes, the VSLAs will continue to thrive. As people develop their small businesses or take on other income-generating activities, both individual and community resilience to shocks and stressors will be strengthened.

Community members working together is the key that will not only strengthen them now but also create a more secure future.