The Daasanach: The Overlooked Residents of Illeret, Marsabit County

The Daasanach: The Overlooked Residents of Illeret, Marsabit County

The year began on an impactful note as I had the opportunity to visit Illeret in Marsabit County on a mission trip. My first surprise was the mode of transportation from Marsabit to Illeret; cargo lorries are the primary means, and their availability is quite limited. Depending on the circumstances, obtaining a lorry for the Illeret route can take anywhere from three days to four weeks, though you might be fortunate enough to find one within a day or two.

The second surprise was the poor condition of the roads. The distance from Marsabit to Illeret is approximately 300 kilometers, yet due to the deteriorated roads, the journey can take between 15 and 20 hours. Indeed, you read that correctly. Since cargo lorries are the only transport option, passengers often have to sit atop the goods being transported, which proves to be rather uncomfortable.

This experience only scratches the surface of what Illeret has to offer; the destination itself is a disheartening sight. Access to water comes from a lagha, with most residents trekking about three kilometers to obtain it. The water quality is poor, yet people drink directly from it, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases. Most locals are pastoralists and fishermen, and there is no cultivation of crops due to the thorny vegetation in the area. As a result, residents depend on relief food and cash transfers from the government; however, these measures are unsustainable and lead many households to face food insecurity.

During our stay in Nang’olei village, as well as in the villages of Ilolo, Lomadang, El Kerech, and El Bokoch, it was evident that 90% of the inhabitants struggle with literacy and communicate solely in the Daasanach language. Additionally, there are prevalent issues such as early marriage, school dropouts (evidenced by girls adorned with plaited lines and red ore, indicating a cultural rejection of education, known as ‘Forah’ – meaning pastoral), and the practice of Female Genital Mutilation. Missionaries are actively working to end these backward traditions and promote education, but their numbers are few as many are reluctant to venture into what is often dubbed the ‘wilderness.’

The limited number of government schools in the region often lack teachers, and classes typically run from 8 am to 10 am due to the heat, compounded by an absence of a structured curriculum and hunger in schools. The Illeret Health Center is insufficiently equipped for emergencies, forcing most residents to travel to a neighboring town in Ethiopia for better healthcare services.

What can planners do? As Illeret is situated within Marsabit County, there is a pressing need to urge the government to develop a proper road network. This initiative would pave the way for future investments in Illeret.

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