Kurfa Umuro Katelo, a 35-year-old resident of Malabot Centre in Marsabit County, lives with her family of five Chari village, North Horr, Marsabit County. This is a village that borne the brunt of the vagaries of climate change: from cycles of prolonged drought to devastating floods, Kurfa knows all too well.

Between the month of May and June, Chari village saw the most devastating floods in recent history. Kurfa’s traditional house was totally destroyed. She watched helplessly as her belongings, including utensils and water containers, were swept away. Worse still, the floods claimed a significant number of her livestock kept just after her family had relocated the animals for grazing. “More than half of our livestock were swept away, only a few were rescued. This really broke every fighting spirit that we had since we were just starting to rebuild life after the recent drought,” she recalls with deep sadness.

Every cloud, the adage goes, has a silver lining. Beneath the fog of helplessness, in those early critical days support came from PACIDA with support from Start Fund through Christian Aid. PACIDA worked with the village structures to rally the community to a public meeting to identify and support the most affected participants. Kurfa was among the many who attended and shared their stories.

Through a community-led process involving village elders and chiefs, participants were identified, with priority given to the most vulnerable—including widows, pregnant and breast-feeding mothers and persons with disabilities. The fairness and transparency of the selection brought trust and unity among the villagers. “PACIDA came back to verify the list and ensure it was done in the correct matter. The village elders confirmed everything was fair and correct,” Kurfa explains with satisfaction, as her face now beams with hope.

Thanks to the PACIDA intervention, Kurfa and her household received cash transfers, jerrycans, mult-ipurpose soap, sanitary towels and buckets. The cash transfer enabled Kurfa to purchase food and clothes for her children. The buckets and jerrycans replaced those lost during the floods and are now vital for water collection and storage. Sanitary towels—often inaccessible in remote areas—made a significant difference in hygiene and dignity for women in the community.

“I really don’t know how I would have coped with all this loss were it not for this Start Fund support. Now I wake up, fuelled by hope and ready to face the day,” she says.

“The floods took everything – and not my abiding spirit. It is always dark before dawn. Here I am, recovering. And rising again,” she tearfully narrates her story.

Grateful yet hopeful, Kurfa’s story reflects the resilience of communities in Marsabait County. With sustained support, she believes families like hers can recover and thrive once again.