• Are nomadic having houses built from palm leaves/mud huts.
  
  
• Survive with limited livestock.
  
  
• Are faced with frequent drastic drought , soil is salty and insufficient fertilizer for growing crops. Annual average rainfall is only 300-400mm, about 150mm in arid central regions, causing low water levels at river beds, which in turn causes major water problems.
  
  
• Are unable to seek employment because there are no big industries except for small workshop dealing in carpentry & basketry with local materials.
  
  
• Do not get sufficient support from the central government.

The Turkanas

At the Centre:

• Electricity in the centre is powered by a generator, dependant on diesel. Invertors and batteries function poorly and need to be replaced often.
  
  
• The Centre, Staff quarters and other structures are old, damaged and require major repairs.
  
  
• Movement in the Turkana region and beyond, is difficult, due to the desert and semi desert terrain; "through the punishing heat, the sandy and rocky terrain, it is one of the harshest regions in Africa" – Nigel Pivots onTurkana
  
  
• Occasional heavy downpour causes havoc - flash floods, making it difficult for pastoralists, travelers, students and staff, who sometimes spent 2 or 3 days waiting for water to recede or sometimes wading through the water to arrive at their destination.

Sister Stella on her way to Kitale on 31 Oct 2004. After the rain – being pulled across over two flooded rivers