Turkana
Sean
the voiceless tribe
In the inhospitibal region that is Northern Kenya, lives the Turkana Tribe. One of two main tribal groups in the area, they are the unwelcome immigrants.
Both the Turkana and Samburu tribes are pastoralist by nature. They are semi nomadic tribes and their cattle are a main source of their ability to survive. Since the colonial days in Northern Kenya, the Samburu have been considered the "natives" in the areas to the South and East of lake Turkana. Over the years however some Turkana's have found there way in among them. This intermingling has not come without its problems. For many reasons the Turkana are greatly disliked in this Samburu populated land. In addition to the Turkana's being immigrants into Samburu territory, they are also looked down upon because their men are uncircumcized (Samburu men are cicumcized at age 18 as a right of passage into manhood). Drought has also increased the already existing dissension between Turkana and Samburu by increasing their inclination for cattle rustling. It is not uncommon for tribes to steal one another's cattle which inevitably includes killing of the men who watch over the cattle. This commonly escalates via revenge killings to all out war between villages. This in turn leads to widowed wives and fatherless children. For the Turkana women this situation is worsened because they are a minority.
Due to this tribal violence a large group of Turkana women we encountered have been relocated to a refugee camp in the area of Maralal. As we took their photos and got to learn more about them we realized that while the government does support them with a small amount of food... it is exactly that; a small amount of food. These women are given monthy only enough food for a few days. When our group interacted with them several of them hadn't eaten in days.
As a photographer doing a photoshoot, some of this group of women requested small payment for their time and photos which I gladly gave. Not half an hour after the photoshoot we saw them walking back down the street with big bags of food on their heads. They stopped long enough to smile the largest most genuine and grateful smiles i've seen in a long time.
(click on photos for larger image)
Alice Lokorio
Age:70's (doesn't know)
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of five Children
After our time in Northern Kenya Amy and I had to spend the remainder of our time in Kenya working on filming a documentary/promotional video for the orphanage we were working at further south. However Robin who was to be in Kenya a bit longer was able to follow up with the refugee women in Maralal. The women who are used to tribal/pastoralist lifestyle and were having a very difficult time supporting themselves in a city environment. There are some aid programs in the area but again because it is "Samburu country" and Turkana are the minority, there are really no aid programs in that area helping them out. Through the contacts that we made on our initial trip she was able to start a grocery kiosk for the women there to help them support themselves.
Robin has also been trying to help get a few of the refugee women out of jail. The Turkana make a traditional "home brew" alcohol that the women were trying to make and sell as a means of supporting themselves, but because of strict laws, this was considered illegal and three of these teenage girls were imprisoned. Robin also been networking to try to find adult ed classes for the women to get some form of education as well. If you want to know more in depth what Robin is has been able to accomplish, or support the work she's started in Maralal, check out her blog RobinElander.blogspot.com
Im still trying to get info for specifically supporting the reconciliation and water ministry in the SouthHorr area near Lake Turkana, but if you are interested in getting involved you can check out www.newdirections.org. They have some great projects all over the world but I can personally vouch for the work they are doing with the Turkana and Samburu tribes in SouthHorr and lake Turkana areas.
Next week Amy our friend Ryan and myself will be going on a short tour in England to get the word out on PickaPocket's projects as well as these new opportunites to fight extreme poverty in Kenya. In England we will be speaking at a couple churches as well as a human rights convention with Amnesty International at a university outside of London. Pray that these go well!!!
Thanks for reading!
~Sean
In the inhospitibal region that is Northern Kenya, lives the Turkana Tribe. One of two main tribal groups in the area, they are the unwelcome immigrants.
Both the Turkana and Samburu tribes are pastoralist by nature. They are semi nomadic tribes and their cattle are a main source of their ability to survive. Since the colonial days in Northern Kenya, the Samburu have been considered the "natives" in the areas to the South and East of lake Turkana. Over the years however some Turkana's have found there way in among them. This intermingling has not come without its problems. For many reasons the Turkana are greatly disliked in this Samburu populated land. In addition to the Turkana's being immigrants into Samburu territory, they are also looked down upon because their men are uncircumcized (Samburu men are cicumcized at age 18 as a right of passage into manhood). Drought has also increased the already existing dissension between Turkana and Samburu by increasing their inclination for cattle rustling. It is not uncommon for tribes to steal one another's cattle which inevitably includes killing of the men who watch over the cattle. This commonly escalates via revenge killings to all out war between villages. This in turn leads to widowed wives and fatherless children. For the Turkana women this situation is worsened because they are a minority.
Due to this tribal violence a large group of Turkana women we encountered have been relocated to a refugee camp in the area of Maralal. As we took their photos and got to learn more about them we realized that while the government does support them with a small amount of food... it is exactly that; a small amount of food. These women are given monthy only enough food for a few days. When our group interacted with them several of them hadn't eaten in days.
As a photographer doing a photoshoot, some of this group of women requested small payment for their time and photos which I gladly gave. Not half an hour after the photoshoot we saw them walking back down the street with big bags of food on their heads. They stopped long enough to smile the largest most genuine and grateful smiles i've seen in a long time.
(click on photos for larger image)
Alice LokorioAge:70's (doesn't know)
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of five Children
Najina
Age:16
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Tarasea
Age:40
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of three children
Akeno
Age:90's?
(she stopped counting)
From Baragoi
Living in Refugee camp Maralal
Mother of eight children
Age:16
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Tarasea
Age:40
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of three children
Akeno
Age:90's?
(she stopped counting)
From Baragoi
Living in Refugee camp Maralal
Mother of eight children
Palina and baby Loibas
Age:50, and baby: 8 months
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Age:50, and baby: 8 months
From Loporot
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Akeno
Age:90's?
(she stopped counting)
From Baragoi
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of eight children
As Maralal was only a stop on a bigger journey we had to leave the day after interacting with these women, but this was not a situation we wanted to leave as-is. As we continued to travel North the Turkana refugee women of Maralal were strongly on our hearts. When we arrived at our next location, low and behold, we found ourselves staying, to our surprise, at a guest house that doubled as a ministry working with both Turkana and Samburu peoples. This ministry provides water for a Turkana Village further North as well as works on reconciliation between Turkana and Samburu youth through sports camps. Here we were able to brainstorm with the ministries founder (a missionary/aid project starter for 40+ years) JL Williams. JL was able to give us some good direction as we were thinking about ways to help the refugee women. Also while we were there we were able go with them on a water run out to the Turkana village of Sarima. This village is suffering greatly because of a severe drought that has been going on for over a year in Northern Kenya (literally not a drop of rain has fallen in over a year). Because this village relies on seasonal rivers for themselves and their livestock, this drought has been crippling. They can take donkeys to lake Turkana some 15-20 miles away, but that water is highly alkaline and can only be used for cooking, NOT drinking. This ministry however has a deep well and is able to deliver houndreds of gallons of clean drinking water every couple of weeks to this village. Providing them not only with one of their most basic of needs, but with the gospel in word as well as in deed. It was an awesome experience to be able to participate for a short time in what this ministry is doing there.
Nayokono Ekukoi
Age: 65
From Nawapa
Nayokono is a Turkana medicine man
Over the years he has killed many hyenas and wild dogs in defense of his camels and cattle
Age:90's?
(she stopped counting)
From Baragoi
Living in refugee camp Maralal
Mother of eight children
As Maralal was only a stop on a bigger journey we had to leave the day after interacting with these women, but this was not a situation we wanted to leave as-is. As we continued to travel North the Turkana refugee women of Maralal were strongly on our hearts. When we arrived at our next location, low and behold, we found ourselves staying, to our surprise, at a guest house that doubled as a ministry working with both Turkana and Samburu peoples. This ministry provides water for a Turkana Village further North as well as works on reconciliation between Turkana and Samburu youth through sports camps. Here we were able to brainstorm with the ministries founder (a missionary/aid project starter for 40+ years) JL Williams. JL was able to give us some good direction as we were thinking about ways to help the refugee women. Also while we were there we were able go with them on a water run out to the Turkana village of Sarima. This village is suffering greatly because of a severe drought that has been going on for over a year in Northern Kenya (literally not a drop of rain has fallen in over a year). Because this village relies on seasonal rivers for themselves and their livestock, this drought has been crippling. They can take donkeys to lake Turkana some 15-20 miles away, but that water is highly alkaline and can only be used for cooking, NOT drinking. This ministry however has a deep well and is able to deliver houndreds of gallons of clean drinking water every couple of weeks to this village. Providing them not only with one of their most basic of needs, but with the gospel in word as well as in deed. It was an awesome experience to be able to participate for a short time in what this ministry is doing there.
Nayokono EkukoiAge: 65
From Nawapa
Nayokono is a Turkana medicine man
Over the years he has killed many hyenas and wild dogs in defense of his camels and cattle
Nayokono Ekukoi
Age: 65
From Nawapa
Nayokono is a Turkana medicine man
Over the years he has killed many hyenas and wild dogs in defense of his camels and cattle
Age: 65
From Nawapa
Nayokono is a Turkana medicine man
Over the years he has killed many hyenas and wild dogs in defense of his camels and cattle
Lojore
Age:7
From Sarima
Lojore is one of five children
Kuya
Age:48
From Sarima
Kuya has eight children
Emase
Age: 55
From Sarima
Emase is mother of eight children
Ebakatu
Age:50
From Sarima
Ebakatu has 5 children
Ebakatu and baby Asunyen
Age:50 and baby: 9 months
From Sarima
Asunyen is the youngest of five children
Age:7
From Sarima
Lojore is one of five children
Kuya
Age:48
From Sarima
Kuya has eight children
Emase
Age: 55
From Sarima
Emase is mother of eight children
Ebakatu
Age:50
From Sarima
Ebakatu has 5 children
Ebakatu and baby Asunyen
Age:50 and baby: 9 months
From Sarima
Asunyen is the youngest of five children
After our time in Northern Kenya Amy and I had to spend the remainder of our time in Kenya working on filming a documentary/promotional video for the orphanage we were working at further south. However Robin who was to be in Kenya a bit longer was able to follow up with the refugee women in Maralal. The women who are used to tribal/pastoralist lifestyle and were having a very difficult time supporting themselves in a city environment. There are some aid programs in the area but again because it is "Samburu country" and Turkana are the minority, there are really no aid programs in that area helping them out. Through the contacts that we made on our initial trip she was able to start a grocery kiosk for the women there to help them support themselves.
Robin has also been trying to help get a few of the refugee women out of jail. The Turkana make a traditional "home brew" alcohol that the women were trying to make and sell as a means of supporting themselves, but because of strict laws, this was considered illegal and three of these teenage girls were imprisoned. Robin also been networking to try to find adult ed classes for the women to get some form of education as well. If you want to know more in depth what Robin is has been able to accomplish, or support the work she's started in Maralal, check out her blog RobinElander.blogspot.comIm still trying to get info for specifically supporting the reconciliation and water ministry in the SouthHorr area near Lake Turkana, but if you are interested in getting involved you can check out www.newdirections.org. They have some great projects all over the world but I can personally vouch for the work they are doing with the Turkana and Samburu tribes in SouthHorr and lake Turkana areas.
Next week Amy our friend Ryan and myself will be going on a short tour in England to get the word out on PickaPocket's projects as well as these new opportunites to fight extreme poverty in Kenya. In England we will be speaking at a couple churches as well as a human rights convention with Amnesty International at a university outside of London. Pray that these go well!!!
Thanks for reading!
~Sean