Cash transfers give hope to marginalised Elmolo community

A section of Elmolo Village on the shores of lake Turkana. The government cash transfers will boost living standards of the Elmolo community. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU  NATION

In Summary

• The money is given to about 100,000 beneficiaries in the four counties through Equity Bank agents.
• Most of the Elmolo have bone deformities due to overreliance on protein hence access to other diets is expected to improve their health.
• The two Islands have a population of 875 people out of which 500 residents are said to be of the Elmolo tribe.
• Mrs Immanuela Lamarote said their nutrition and health has improved as they have the money to spend on buying firewood and other types of food.

By DAVID MUCHUI
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Members of the Elmolo community living on the shores of Lake Turkana in Marsabit County will have their purchasing power elevated thanks to the government’s cash transfer programme.

Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) operating in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera and Wajir counties will provide Sh4,900 to targeted households and a Sh2, 450 supplement to those in need of emergency help during drought.

Speaking at Komote village, the residents, especially fishermen lauded the HSNP an unconditional poverty based social protection programme, as the best way to address poverty and marginalization.

The money is given to about 100,000 beneficiaries in the four counties through Equity Bank agents.

Elmolo Bay assistant Chief Marko Barin said the bi-monthly stipend has improved entrepreneurship in Komote and Layeni villages.

“Due to lack of good fishing equipment, business has not been good. The money has helped the Elmolo community boost business. Women have been able to form a beadwork through which they are making money from tourists.

More children from the islands are joining secondary schools,” Mr Barin said.

The two Islands have a population of 875 people out of which 500 residents are said to be of the Elmolo tribe.

Mr Lakutan Lamarote, a father of seven from Komote Island said his fish business was only able to cater for the family’s daily needs.

“When I started receiving Sh4, 900 from the government, I was able to take my child to secondary school, start a kiosk, boost my fishing business and install a solar system. My children can now read at night hence their performance has improved,” Mr Lamarote said.

Mr Simon Lepolote, 60, a father of eight who is also a beneficiary of the HSNP programme said he now has the hope of educating all his children in secondary school.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH

Mrs Immanuela Lamarote said their nutrition and health has improved as they have the money to spend on buying firewood and other types of food.

“We need money to survive on the island because a piece of firewood costs Sh20 which we can now afford. We are now able to dry more fish for sale in Kisumu,” she said.

Most of the Elmolo have bone deformities due to lack of a balance diet.

The programme is managed by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) supported by the government of Kenya, United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The HSNP pilot phase cost Sh5.5 billion reaching 69,000 households while phase two is expected to cost Sh15.8 billion reaching 100,000 households while 302,000 households will get the emergency cash transfer.