From Kenya to Coventry
I was well-trained to be a Turkana wife: I can make traditional huts and milk a goat, cow and camel... So why am I writing this in Coventry? Have you ever felt lucky in your life? Well, I feel lucky and blessed in equal measure, all the way from Morulem village to England … in pursuit of my academic dreams. It’s not all about luck. They say hard work and resilience can bring you close to achieving your dreams, something I can sincerely vouch for.
A difficult start
I grew up in Morulem village, in Turkana County, Kenya. The village is known for its spectacular acacia tree cover and shade but wait until you step onto its spikes! As a kid, I never enjoyed being sent at night to buy or collect something. The tree trunks resembled people hiding in the dark!
I’m from a humble nomadic family of six siblings: three girls and three boys. Our home is centrally placed with acacia trees to the right and left and a view of the hill to the south-east and a nice view of the sunrise every morning.
Turkana county is one of the driest regions of Kenya. It has devastating droughts. The nomadic communities are marginalised, with a poor standard of living, high illiteracy levels and limited opportunities. The whole area suffers from water scarcity and insecurity issues that have cost many lives, including my own close family and friends.