Climate Change, Children, and Community Resilience in Kenya

Story by: JUDITH OKEBE

Location: KENYA

Judith is the founder and director of Heha Kenya, a community based organization supporting vulnerable children and families. This is her story, drawn from the work they do through Heha Kenya.

In Kenya, climate change is no longer a distant concept it is a painful daily reality that deeply affects children, families, and entire communities. Through Heha Kenya, we work closely with vulnerable households, and over the past few years, the effects of climate change have become increasingly devastating.

Prolonged drought has severely affected many regions, particularly Marsabit, Mandera, Kilifi, Turkana, Garissa, Wajir, and parts of Homa Bay. Families that once depended on small scale farming and livestock have lost their main sources of food and income. Crops have failed repeatedly, livestock have died due to lack of pasture and water, and children are the most affected.

We are seeing children dropping out of school because hunger makes learning impossible. Some walk long distances in search of water instead of attending class. Malnutrition cases have increased sharply, weakening children’s immunity and exposing them to illness. As I write this, families are literally dying of hunger, especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Marsabit and Mandera.

At the same time, severe floods often following long droughts have destroyed homes, swept away farms, and displaced families. Floodwaters have broken houses, contaminated water sources, and led to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. Children and the elderly bear the greatest burden, facing illness, trauma, and loss of safety.

On a personal and organizational level, the floods also affected us directly. Our work was disrupted, communities we serve were displaced, and resources that were already limited were stretched even further. As we speak, we are also trying to raise finances to purchase land for the organization, a critical step toward stability and long-term impact. Climate shocks have made even basic organizationalsustainability a struggle.

Despite these hardships, communities continue to show resilience. During periods of favorable climate, we engage in tree-planting initiatives, environmental conservation, and community education. We teach children and families the importance of protecting nature, understanding that caring for the environment is inseparable from protecting life. However, these efforts cannot succeed without consistent support.

This is why we constantly call upon partnerships, collaboration, and financial support to facilitate food relief, environmental conservation, education, and longterm climate adaptation solutions. Currently, Heha Kenya is planning a food charity project to respond to the hunger crisis caused by climate related shocks, while also advocating for sustainable solutions such as climate-smart agriculture.

Writing this story is extremely painful for me. Tears are running down my cheeks as I think of the children I see at the grassroots level children who cannot survive simply because there is no food. When you witness this reality up close, it breaks you. I honestly find myself wondering what more can be done, and what responsibility governments and global systems must take to protect the most vulnerable.

Climate change has shown us that environmental issues are deeply connected to children’s rights, education, health, dignity, and survival. When the environment suffers, children suffer first and most. Yet, with collective action, partnership, and compassion, change is still possible.

Sharing this story is my way of standing with voices across the world to say that climate justice is human justice, and that African children must be at the center of climate action.