Many rural communities in Kenya rely on livestock to generate their income, which has left them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Periods of drought and extreme weather have become common in Kenya, leaving farmers without an income. Many do not know where their next meal is coming from.
In desperation some have turned to making money from illegal logging and charcoal burning. However, these activities damage the environment and worsen the effects of climate change, creating a cyclical effect from which communities are struggling to escape.
One of the hardest hit areas in the country is Dabel, Moyale, which has seen many periods of extreme weather. “I used to cut trees and burn charcoal for sale. I was always hiding from the police because it was an illegal business. The income I generated still was not enough to take care of my family”, says Hassan from Dabel.
What we’re doing to help
To help local families cope with the effects of a changing climate, Islamic Relief has implemented a project enabling farmers to earn a living through beekeeping. We have worked with the local government in order to train 44 farmers on beekeeping, honey harvesting and processing methods.