Introduction and invitation to join us in building sustainable solutions for the people in Wajir. The crisis is now. The solution needs to be permanent.

1. Wajir, Kenya
“Coming Together” - Borana

2. "We sent forth the winds that fecundate. We cause the water to
descend from the sky. We provide you with the water - you
(could) not be the guardians of its reserves." [Quran 15:22]

3. Wajir
Wajir County is a county in
northeastern Kenya.
Its capital and largest town is Wajir.
The county has a population of
767,991 and an area of
55,840.6 km.
Wajir is 730 miles from Nairobi and
just 100 miles from the border with
Somalia.
It is a desert area, characterized by
scarce rains, vegetation and crops.
The population, due to the extreme
climatic conditions, famines and
diseases, is constantly forced to
make a difficult livelihood.
.

4. People
Kenya's northeast is home to the
country's Somali tribe, a Cushitic
tribe that also resides in larger
numbers in the neighboring Republic
of Somalia and Ethiopia.
They are the fifth largest community
in Kenya and the largest tribe among
all of Kenya's Cushitic tribes.
The Somali people have practiced
Islam for such a long time that many
Somali customs are derived from this
religion. Islamic influence is
manifested in the Somali way of
dressing, with the women wearing
beautiful long dresses, head wraps
and hijabs of colorful African fabrics.
The Somali men often wear a turban.
In these native lands, Somalis
practice a nomadic pastoralist way of
life, keeping herds of camels, sheep,
indigenous cattle, and some goats.
As such, milk and meat are part of
the Somali diet. Another food the
Somali people enjoy is pasta, a food
acquired from the Italians during
Somali's colonial past.

5. Economy
Wajir is the Livestock capital of
Kenya. The county is one of the major
sources of beef, and small stock sold
in Nairobi and Mombasa. It has a
vibrant goats and sheep market that
trades daily while cattle and camels
are traded once a week.
The large tracts of land in the county
provide the grazing pastures for the
large camel and cattle herds present
in the county.
Nomadic farming remains the most
widespread source of income with
cattle herders traveling long
distances in search of water and
pastures
The main crops grown in the county
are sorghum, maize, millet, cowpeas
and green grams. The mode of
production is majorly rain fed. The
production level is still subsistence.

6. "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear
as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down
the middle of the great street of the city. ." [Revelation 22:1]

7. Famine
Warning – the images are graphic.

8. A picture speaks a thousand words

9. The crisis
There is a food crisis in East Africa.
Prolonged droughts, combined with
ongoing conflict, have more than
16 million people hungry.
Widespread crop failure and falling
terms of trade for pastoralists have
affected farming and agro-pastoral
communities in the northwest,
northeastern and coastal strip of Kenya.
The two main rainy seasons failed in
2016.
There are growing reports of conflict as
a result of displacement and water
shortages.
Drought in Kenya has left 2.7 million
people in need of humanitarian
assistance.
Four million people could be in need of
aid by July if the long rains fail.
The Government of Kenya declared the
drought a national disaster in February
2017, and made an appeal for national
and international support.

10. Komesha Njaa
End Hunger
A group of young, Muslim
entrepreneurs in Mombasa, Kenya
assisted by the youth in the
community has formed an Ad Hoc
group to help the people in
northeastern Kenya.
To date they have raised
KSH13,ooo,000 (US$130,000).
The are looking for partners not
just to send aid but to help find
culturally relevant, sustainable
solutions.
They are not waiting for the
government or international
organizations to step in. The time
is now to take action.
www.KomeshaNjaa.org

11. Indigenous to
Indigenous (i2i)
Based in Kansas, i2i works with the
people of East Africa for
sustainable solutions.
Specializing in basic development,
i2i first builds a foundation of
permanent clean water and
renewable energy for electricity.
All other things are built on this.
I2i is looking to partner with
Komesha Njaa to bring options for
solutions to the people of Wajir.
I2i will design, plan and implement
the solution working hand in hand
with local people so, at the end of
the project, the Wajir people will
benefit with the knowledge,
experience and resources to
ensure a lasting solution.

12. Sustainable
solutions
“And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And
whatever good ye send forth for your souls before
you, ye shall find it with Allah: for Allah sees Well all
that ye do. " [Quran 2:110]

13. Initially
The original thought was, “Let’s
get food to these people.” But
what impact would a delivery of
food have? People would feel
better for a day or two.
Along with food, people need to
retain their dignity and their
culture.
Not only are people dying, their
livestock (their wealth, their
identity and their future) are dying.
How can we get them through the
crisis, helping them to their feet on
a path that has hope.

14. Further
discussion
Until we know who our partners will
be and what size and scope our
project will have, here is what is
under discussion:
Bringing solar energy.
Creating an Oasis providing water for
people and livestock.
Creating refrigeration facilities to
allow people to store food for future
use or for export.
Dehydration facilities for
preservation of food.
Developing irrigation and systems of
Zero Grazing.
Providing families with portable solar
not only to provide light but also to
charge phones (larger portable
systems also a possibility).

15. Are you ready to
be a partner?
We need you!
We need organizations that
share our mission.
We need people who believe in
human dignity.
We need people who believe
culture is important.
We need partners who want to
be involved because it is the
right thing to do.

16. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I
say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me." [Matthew 25:40]

17. Thank you