Hope in drought-hit Mandera as water and Ramadan aid rolled out

In villages across Mandera West Constituency, Banisa Constituency and Mandera South Constituency, water tankers have become a lifeline, delivering clean water to communities that had been forced to walk for miles under scorching heat in search of the precious commodity.

The sustained water-trucking initiative, financed by local businessman Haji Samow, has been running continuously for more than two months. 

Residents say the intervention has significantly eased suffering in some of the hardest-hit areas, restoring a sense of dignity to families who had nearly exhausted their coping mechanisms.

“For weeks we depended on distant and unreliable water sources. Now at least we can access clean water closer to home,” said one resident in Mandera West.

The initiative comes at a critical time, as prolonged dry spells continue to devastate livestock and deepen vulnerability across the arid region.

With the holy month of Ramadan the businessman has expanded his support beyond water relief. In recent days, he toured parts of the county, including Elwak, Banisa and Takaba, to launch a Ramadan food distribution programme targeting vulnerable households.

Hundreds of families are now receiving essential food supplies to help them prepare for iftar, offering much-needed respite at a time when food prices remain high and incomes strained.

Community leaders say the twin interventions, water and food support,  have injected hope into a region battling harsh climatic conditions and economic hardship.

As drought continues to test northern Kenya’s resilience, residents of Mandera County say such acts of philanthropy underscore a simple but powerful truth: leadership is not only about holding office, but about standing with the community when it matters most.