MAIKONA TOWN

Chalbi desert

      Maikona is a town in Marsabit North Sub County, Marsabit County that hosts the Sub County’s headquarters. It lies on a latitude of 2,9333 (255059.9880N), longitude of 37,6333 (3737059.8800E) and an attitude of 360m. Maikona lies on a distance of 478kms from Nairobi city and the mode of transport is by road using Lorries that transport animals to Nairobi.
      The town is at the middle of Chalbi desert and the temperatures hit as high as 390C.
The town is inhabited by various communities including Borana, Gabra, Burji and the Dasnach. There have always been issues of inter-community clashes as the communities fight for the available resources. Gunshots have always occupied the atmosphere and even kids can clearly explain to you how AK 47 and G3 riffles are operated.

Manyatta used by the locals

The town has four (4) schools, two (2) primary schools and two (2) secondary schools. In the outskirts of the town, pupils are taught in the open by volunteers who value the future of the kids and the community at large. The general performance of the schools is not very pleasing due to the unfavourable climatice conditions, mostly high temperatures that result to drought and also the inter-community conflicts and aslo the general topography of the area.

        Maikona hosts shallow wells. Pastoralists walk huge distances from other areas e.g. Kalacha, Hurri hills, Mt. Kulal and Segel in order to give their animals the most precious commodity in the earth, which is water. Water in the wells is salty and contains the green algae (cyanobacteria) and is still used by human beings for survival. Animals are given the water in shifts to avoid conflicts. This has been facilitated by the presence of Administration Police officers stationed at the Sub County headquarters. The officers contribute largely in conflict resolution through forums on community policing.

Locals fetching water for their livestock.

      The vegetation around is only composed of scattered shrubs and no presence of grass has been witnessed. The climatic conditions are very harsh and in most cases, rains only come once in a span of 2 (two) years. When the rains come, the only transport system in the area is paralyzed because the ground contains hard rocks that do not drain water hence resulting to flooding.

A security meeting called by The District Commissioner

Distribution of relief food has been the order of the town. People queue in long queues to await food that include beans, maize, skimmed milk and cooking fat.             The villagers supplement this with meat prepared from their animals. The prepared meat is commonly known as “nyirnyir.” The villagers live in small temporary structures called “manyattas.” These are made up of sticks and waste clothing material.         The structures serve as a “self-contained” house since it houses the kitchen, lounge and the bedroom.

"Nyirnyir" preserved meat

        Until August 2010, the network had no network connection. Safaricom mobile operator brought up their mobile telephony services that serves the town and is wind and generator powered because the town has no hope of electricity connection. Solar connection is the sole energy provider in the town. Before Safaricom network, people used to queue for hours to make that important call at one of the villager’s home who had a land line telephone connection.
        A lot needs to be done to improve the living conditions of the people living in the town. The area being a hostile town due to the inter-communities conflicts is only served one out patient mission hospital. It is not well equipped and a lot needs to be done to make it a classy hospital. Transport system ought to improve as this will help in improving the welfare of the communities by opening business chances to the locals.

Segel Security Patrol base.