In the dry lands of Turkana County, growing old has become a daily battle for survival. The sun is harsh, the rivers are dry, and food is harder to find than ever before.
For many elderly people, hunger is no longer a short-term problem. It is now part of everyday life.
Turkana is known for its pastoralist communities. For generations, families have depended on livestock such as goats, sheep, and cattle.
Animals are not just a source of food; they are a source of pride, income, and security. But repeated droughts have killed many animals.
Without livestock, families lose milk, meat, and money. For older people, this loss is devastating.
Many elderly residents can no longer walk long distances to search for water or pasture. Some cannot work or travel to towns to look for help.
While younger family members may migrate in search of opportunities, older people are often left behind. They stay in villages with little food and limited strength to survive harsh conditions.
Hunger has worsened across the wider Horn of Africa, where climate change has caused frequent droughts. Rains that once came regularly now fail season after season.
Crops do not grow, animals die, and food prices rise. In Turkana, this crisis hits the elderly the hardest because they have fewer options and less support.
Aid organizations are trying to help. The World Food Programme has provided food assistance to vulnerable families.
However, funding shortages mean that not everyone receives enough support. Food rations have sometimes been reduced, leaving older people to stretch small portions over many days.
The Kenyan government also runs the Hunger Safety Net Programme, which gives cash transfers to vulnerable households in arid areas.
While this support brings hope, the money is often too little to meet all basic needs, especially when food prices are high.
Behind the numbers are real faces—grandmothers caring for grandchildren, elderly men sitting outside empty homes, and aging parents skipping meals so younger family members can eat. Their strength is remarkable, but resilience alone cannot fill an empty stomach.
As drought continues and aid struggles to keep up, Turkana’s elderly remain at risk. Their story is a reminder that hunger does not only affect children.
It also touches those who have already lived long, difficult lives—and who deserve dignity, care, and food on their plates.
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