Michael & Joan Barfoot have recently been appointed as First-Term Coordinators in Kenya. In May, Michael had the opportunity to visit some of the missionaries for whom they will be responsible in the far north of the country. At at the same time he was able to witness first-hand the effects of the drought that has hit East Africa.

Our small five-seater AIMAIR plane buzzed over the township where, over 30 years ago, Aim had first began a ministry among the nomadic peoples in Northern Kenya.

The landscape changed gradually on our journey that day from green grassland, to rocky mountainous regions and then to a vast, hot, flat, brown landscape, from which we could discern the occasional farm settlement ringed with fencing.

We visited one of the two Christian primary schools initiated by the AIC (Africa Inland Church) for children of nomadic families.  Most primary schools’ funding is subsidised by the government and parents may only need to contribute something towards the cost of boarding, exercise books and a school uniform. But a year’s secondary school fees amount to around £250 and must be raised by the parents. More and more parents are realising the necessity of education for their children, to enable them to have other opportunities to provide for the family than the unpredictable life of a herdsman.

One such family, Dima and his wife Kabali, have five children. Dima always wanted as many of his children as possible to go to secondary school. His eldest son, Robo, had completed eight years of primary school and was now planning to go to secondary school. Over the years, Dima had been able to increase the number of his cattle to over 200. A year ago he would have been able to sell three bulls to pay for Robo’s year in secondary school. Sadly, because of effects of the long-lasting drought last year, in a period of six months Dima had lost his whole stock of cattle.

People like this are being helped by a drought relief fund initiated by Aim International, which is operated through the help of the African church and Aim missionaries who become aware of similar stories. The fund not only helps with food relief, but also helps to provide new stock for the many other families such as Dima and Kabali.

The recent rains have provided some good grazing areas in the north but needs still exist. If you would like to give to this fund see the back page.

Life across much of the north of Kenya is very tough. Church schools provide a valuable resource to the communities that they serve.

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