Dear all,

Please find below the link to the second video shared by Darare Gonche at Iremo, a local NGO working in Marsabit, north-western Kenya. The video is a strong example of local agency and the community-members easily speak for themselves. Still, a few lines of background helped me put their story in an even more impressing perspective.

The video highlights Covid-19 responses initiated by the SAKU self group of people living with disabilities in Marsabit. Back in 2003 the group began a collaboration with the Marsabit Water and Sewage Company (MARWASCO). This collaboration enabled them to run a water kiosk service in their neighbourhoods. MARWASCO manages the water infrastructure including storage and maintenance, while the group members run the daily activities of water services to the users. The water is paid through a token service where the payment is through a Paybill number. The collection at the end of the month is shared; 60% to the company and 40% to the group. The group members then decide on how they would wish to use the benefit they have accrued from sale of water. During this time of Covid -19 pandemic, they agreed that each member would receive $50 to address their household needs such as purchase of foodstuff, sanitizer and food until any possible further support (from the government) arrived. As you’ll see, the group also uses their own quick responses to pressure local authorities on the slowness of their response to Covid-19, the way they see themselves being discriminated against - and in their own to try to address the negative impact following from this.

In Darare’s words and as a Gabra saying goes: "Ak baratan arka iti maratan" – “the best we learned is the best we practice”.

Production: Mamo Ali Guyo for Iremo, May, 2020 

 pwds final.mp4