By OMBOKI MONAYO
Nestled near the border of West Pokot and Marakwet County, Lomut Township is a vibrant hub of activity, particularly on market days when the community gathers to trade goods and share stories.
For Ruth Ngeiywa, a mother of two and a determined farmer, life took a dramatic turn on an ordinary Saturday in April 2020, casting a long shadow over her aspirations.
Also Read
On April 18, 2020, as Ruth busily prepared for her weekly market run, dark storm clouds began to gather over Chesegon Town, about 17 kilometers from her home.
“I finished my tasks at Lomut and then proceeded to the Chesegon market to buy some items,” she recalls, the determination in her voice matched by her hustle as she navigated the stalls.
But as the ominous clouds rolled in, an urgent phone call from a friend would alter her course.
“One of my friends from Lomut was calling and she sounded alarmed. She told me to leave the area as quickly as I could because a massive landslide was headed towards the town,” Ruth explains.
Heeding the warning, she quickly secured a ride on a boda boda, a local motorcycle taxi, and started her journey back home.
“We left the town just before the rains began to fall,” she remembers, anxiety creeping in as the sky darkened.
The area’s tranquility was shattered as a sudden landslide swept through Chesegon, bringing down rocks, soil, and debris in a terrifying cascade.
“It was the scariest ride of my life. We barely made it out alive,” Ruth recalls, her voice trembling at the memory.
The devastation was immense; her newly built home was obliterated, buried beneath tons of earth.
When the storm subsided, the toll of the landslide was revealed: 37 people were reported dead or missing, including two police officers.
To this day, 23 bodies have yet to be recovered.
Just a year prior, President William Ruto had visited the region for the inauguration of a new road, symbolizing hope for the communities of Pokot and Marakwet that occasionally engage in conflicts attributed to banditry and revenge attacks over the loss of life and livestock.
That hope now lay in ruins, washed away by the relentless march of climate change.
“I lost everything I had at the time,” Ruth laments, her voice heavy with grief.
The tragedy struck at a time when she was already challenging the odds; she had been living with a disability since 2006 due to complications with her legs, forcing her to use crutches.
“Despite my physical challenge that forces me to move around with the help of crutches, I’m the active woman that is always moving around and getting things done,” she asserts, expressing the deep conviction of a spirit that refuses to be broken.
In the aftermath of the landslide, Ruth found refuge on her brother’s land near Lomut Township.
“My brother’s generous gesture was a key plank in the journey to recovering my livelihood. I will always be grateful to him for standing with me in my hour of need,” she expresses, her gratitude palpable even amidst adversity.
In response to the disaster, various organizations, including Action Against Hunger (ACF), stepped in to provided immediate assistance to survivors like Ruth.
“We reached out to the survivors and supplied them with jerrycans, blankets, food, and other essential items for their immediate use,” explains Lucas Odhiambo, the ACF Food Security and Livelihoods officer in West Pokot.
ACF’s efforts have led to a decline in stunting rates, dropping from 46% in 2006 to 35% today, highlighting meaningful advancements in nutritional outcomes.
The county government also supported Ruth by providing planting materials for a kitchen garden, rekindling the flicker of hope in her heart.
With the disaster rapidly fading into the mists of history, the specter of climate change continues to pose an existential threat to the region, drastically impacting the livelihoods of local communities.
The West Pokot SMART Survey of 2022 revealed a decline in agricultural crop farming from 41.8 percent in 2021 to 31 percent in 2022.
This downturn is attributed to rising costs and unpredictable rainfall.
Many residents, seeking alternatives to support their families, have turned to the firewood and charcoal trade, risking further harm to the environment and their own sustainability.
Ruth is however determined to chart a different path.
“My focus is on securing a brighter future for my family, which depends on me as the sole breadwinner,” she asserts, embodying the spirit of resilience that defines her character.
With her brother’s support, Ruth has cultivated a kitchen garden that sustains her family with fresh vegetables.
“I have set up a simple kitchen garden to grow vegetables for my family’s use,” she explains, proudly outlining her efforts in cultivating kale, spinach, and black nightshade.
Using innovative irrigation techniques, Ruth ensures her garden flourishes even during dry spells.
“We learnt to pipe water to the garden from the river, and so it’s evergreen even during the dry season,” explains Christine David, a fellow member from the Katinot Village Mother to Mother Support Group.
Ruth serves as the treasurer of this group, one of the beneficiaries of the TenderStem/ACF kitchen garden initiative dubbed the Coregeo Project.
The group has established a two-acre demonstration plot on Christine’s farm, about a kilometer from Lomut Township.
“Our flourishing garden, which has embraced climate-smart farming techniques like cone gardens, Mandela gardens and sunken gardens, has attracted many visitors who are all interested in starting similar projects on their farms,” Christine shares, beaming with pride.
Alongside crop cultivation, group members receive education in financial literacy and basic accounting principles, empowering them to manage their resources effectively.
Through guidance from local Equity Bank marketing officer Evans Mnangat, the group has opened a bank account to save their earnings from vegetable sales.
“I have been engaging the group on the need to save their money in an account that can earn them interest and also enable them to seek loans from the bank to expand their agribusiness enterprise.
They are now beginning to see the enormous potential of focused and strategic commercially driven farming activities,” says Mr. Mnangat, highlighting the transformative power of education and financial empowerment.
Ruth’s commitment to cultivating vegetables has opened a new frontier for her and her fellow group members, shifting from being buyers to suppliers at local markets.
“I used to spend at least Ksh120 (0.93 USD) a day on grocery shopping for my household that has 12 members,” notes Nelly Lotoro, the group chairperson.
Since joining the project, she has successfully grown enough vegetables to feed her family and sell the surplus, alleviating financial strain and increasing food security.
“When we were invited to participate in the project, I saw the chance to improve my family’s diet and well-being,” Nelly remarks, looking to the future with renewed hope.
“Going forward, I intend to dedicate more family land to grow even more vegetables and ensure that we are all nurtured by a diversified diet.”
Ruth Ngeiywa’s journey from loss to recovery exemplifies the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Through community support and innovative agricultural practices, Ruth is not only building a sustainable future for her family but is also inspiring others in her community to embrace change and resilience.
