The Laga of Broken Dreams, Water Scarcity in Laikipia County - Kenya
BY GRACE KIARIE | NOVEMBER 3, 2024
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Grace Kiarie with children in Koija Village, Laikipia County
On the cracked, sun-scorched lands where the earth grasps for rain, it is the women in marginalized communities who bear the silent weight brought about by climate change , which is a looming crisis. It has left women fighting for resources, rights, and recognition.
My name is Grace Kiarie, and in September 2024, I traveled to Koija, a remote village in Laikipia County near the Illmoitok border, to inspire young girls to envision a future filled with greater opportunities and also to understand better the adversities they experience. For three days, I saw and encountered how climate change has a ruthless impact on the women and young girls in the village. I accompanied them to the 'laga'- a dry riverbed with hidden underground water sources. We walked in the hot sun for kilometers, and when we got there, we had first to wait for the elephants to finish taking their share. Then hoped we'd get lucky to get the rest of the water. The laga is a dry riverbed with underground water resources, so we dug the ground, and water bubbled to the surface. Although the water was unclean, the girls used to scope the water and fill their jerrycans. While we fetched water in turns, some girls were chatting stories, and others found stones to exfoliate their feet. When we all finished, we prepared for another journey back to the village. The same unclean water is what they use for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. I tried having the water boiled to drink it, but I just couldn't; I stayed thirsty and dehydrated for more than 48 hours, waiting for mineral water to be purchased from a shopping center that was kilometers away. And despite the hardship, these girls show resilience by adapting to the available resources, however, I wish this could change. We cannot say that it is expected for people to drink the same water as wild animals.
Coming from a less privileged family, I was fortunate to never lack sanitary towels. I had the privilege to access menstrual product which should be a guaranteed right for every young girl. Why are condoms free while sanitary towels are not? I still cannot fathom why society has prioritized this and made sanitary products inaccessible. It makes me angry. That is why, driven by my passion for empowering young girls and championing Sexual Reproductive Health and rights (SRHR) and Gender equality, I have taken that mantle to help these young girls and women in Koija in Laikipia. On 19th October 2024, I got a chance to go back to the village with sanitary towels and other small goodies for the girls. These were all donated by well-wishers who were touched by these circumstances. I also introduced smart agriculture a kitchen garden, where we planted kales in a sack and guided them to use drip irrigation as it will consume less water. At the moment, we planted kales for consumption. Still, with more progress, we shall be able to grow kales for selling, thus empowering girls and women economically while addressing food security.
I have committed to helping this community and mentoring these girls to change their mindset that they could be more than just young wives. They can be doctors, engineers, farmers, business women and be instrumental contributors to their local economies. There should be more strict policies implemented to deal with men who marry underage girls and those who marry them off because the girl child is not an object or source of income. I would urge like-minded individuals passionate about any social issue to make a difference, even when they don't get noticed. Help where they can, a selfless act of being a mentor to empower women and girls can do so much for a community and transform lives. After visiting Laikipia in September, someone who will remain anonymous reached out and told me that after seeing the work accomplished in Laikipia, they are hopeful I will help their community in Samburu. Being seen as a light of hope to help a community is humbling, and such messages make me want to advocate for Gender equality and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
About the author
Grace Kiarie is the visionary founder of Eco-Vibes Revolution, a dynamic organization dedicated to climate solutions while championing gender equality and advocacy. Through her leadership, Eco-Vibes Revolution seeks to empower communities, promote sustainable practices, and ensure that the voices of marginalized groups are heard in the fight against climate change.
You can find more of her active work on LinkedIn and Instagram
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Grace for being our first volunteer writer at the African Environmental Youth Advisory!!!
If you'd like to join us and publish your work as a volunteer writer please fill out this form.
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