Before November, the Turima location In Tharaka-Nithi County was locked in a season of waiting. Conversations at that time revolved around the delayed rains. The scorching sun ruled the skies, leaving vegetation dry, seasonal rivers barren, and roads cloaked with dust. The community seemed to be in a collective pause, their focus pinned on the sky, eagerly waiting for the rains to grace the land. A few proactive individuals were seen preparing the land with the majority waiting for the first drops to signal the beginning of the planting season.
Then, as November began, the long-waited rains arrived, and with them, a sudden transformation swept through Turima. The once-dry seasonal rivers now flow with vigour, their waters breathing life into the land. Vegetation that seemed beyond saving is beginning to turn green, signalling a renewal of hope and life. People who appeared idle just weeks ago are now bustling with activity with young men being actively involved in the farms. They are seen with their Indigenous cattle pulling the ploughs for preparing the land, with women seen busy planting. The transformation is perhaps most striking in the marketplace. Once a hub of chatter and activity, it now resembles a ghost town, as its regulars are occupied in their fields.
The rains have brought more than just water; they’ve got life, energy, and purpose back to Turima. This period is a clear reminder of the symbiotic relationship between nature and humanity. In the coming weeks, the green fields will tell stories of hard work and hope, as seeds sprout into crops and rivers nourish the land. The rains have come not only as a natural phenomenon but as a source of unity and renewal for the people of Turima.