ISIOLO, Kenya, Sep 3 — In 2010, as a devastating drought swept through Isiolo, Muhamed Hayota Dadable watched his wealth disappear one animal at a time. The cows died first. Then the goats. With every carcass left behind by the relentless drought, years of hard work vanished. At the time, there was little he could do but watch helplessly. Today, 16 years later, the 43-year-old farmer still reflects on that painful season. One thought, he says, never leaves him. “Had I known then what I know now, my life would have been completely different.” “I would have sold my livestock before they died. I would have invested the money, built a house or started another business,” he says quietly. “But I did not know any of that back then. All my livestock died. That belongs to Allah.” The lessons that came too late in 2010 now shape how he manages his livelihood. Muhamed joined Nasole Cooperative five years ago after observing the benefits his wife was getting from saving through the cooperative. Every year, she received a share-out, part of which supported the family while the rest remained in savings. Watching her financial discipline convinced him to join. “I saw my wife benefiting from the Sacco and I told myself I could not be left behind,” he recalls. At the time, his wife was saving Sh550. Once Muhamed joined, the family’s savings doubled. Today, both husband and wife are members of N...
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