Keeping Families Safe: Climate-Resilient Homes
For a pastoralist family, a home is more than a shelter. It is where children sleep, where food and possessions are kept, and where a family seeks protection from an increasingly unpredictable climate. In the Kirish community (Samburu East, Samburu County) and the Kamboe community (Marsabit County), Kenya, that protection is becoming fragile.
In July 2024 the Jesuits Hakimani Centre visited both communities with Fr Joseph Hill SJ, a member of its Board. Many homes (traditional manyattas) rely on thatch and plastic sheeting. In heat they become unbearable; in heavy rain they leak, soaking the mattresses children sleep on, destroying belongings and raising the risk of illness. Forecasts point to wetter-than-normal conditions in eastern Kenya for late 2026, with El Niño expected to persist into 2027.
The Project
Rather than asking families to build new homes, the project strengthens what they already have:
• Sustainable, weather-resistant roofing materials and installation
• Basic measures to keep rainwater out of homes
• Community awareness on household climate preparedness
• Links with existing food-security, water and environmental work
Priority goes to households with young children, women-headed households and families least able to repair damage themselves.
Why it matters
A secure roof protects children from rain, cold and heat, protects bedding, food and school materials, reduces repeated repair costs, and prepares families before a climate shock rather than after. As the Hakimani team puts it: a roof is more than a roof — it is an investment in safety, dignity and children's wellbeing.
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For a pastoralist family, a home is more than a shelter. It is where children sleep, where food and possessions are kept, and where a family seeks protection from an increasingly unpredictable climate. In the Kirish community (Samburu East, Samburu County) and the Kamboe community (Marsabit County), Kenya, that protection is becoming fragile.
In July 2024 the Jesuits Hakimani Centre visited both communities with Fr Joseph Hill SJ, a member of its Board. Many homes (traditional manyattas) rely on thatch and plastic sheeting. In heat they become unbearable; in heavy rain they leak, soaking the mattresses children sleep on, destroying belongings and raising the risk of illness. Forecasts point to wetter-than-normal conditions in eastern Kenya for late 2026, with El Niño expected to persist into 2027.
The Project
Rather than asking families to build new homes, the project strengthens what they already have:
• Sustainable, weather-resistant roofing materials and installation
• Basic measures to keep rainwater out of homes
• Community awareness on household climate preparedness
• Links with existing food-security, water and environmental work
Priority goes to households with young children, women-headed households and families least able to repair damage themselves.
Why it matters
A secure roof protects children from rain, cold and heat, protects bedding, food and school materials, reduces repeated repair costs, and prepares families before a climate shock rather than after. As the Hakimani team puts it: a roof is more than a roof — it is an investment in safety, dignity and children's wellbeing.
| Partner | Jesuits Hakimani Centre |
| Location | Kirish & Kamboe, Kenya |
| Duration | 5 months |
| Funding needed | USD 23,206 |
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