Communities in Kenya’s ASALs are often hard-hit by prolonged dry seasons, causing acute water shortage and subsequent suffering among people and livestock. However, after more than 50 years of struggle, a water pipeline has heralded a new dawn for communities in Korbesa and Mata-Arba locations in Isiolo North Subcounty.
The project is implemented through a partnership between the NDMA with funding from the EU, Northern Water Works Development Agency and the County Government of Isiolo. The Ksh96.7 million (about €774,000) Merti-Korbesa water supply project now ensures water access for about 1,600 households (approximately 8,000 people), six schools, four dispensaries and 11,000 livestock.
The project involves piping water from two boreholes at Merti settlement with yields of 13m3/hour and 35m3/hour. The water is pumped from the boreholes to a strategically located booster station – a 231,000-litre steel tank at Mata Arba, 13km from source boreholes, then gravitated to Korbesa settlement about 12km away. The project also includes three elevated 50,000-litre steel tanks at Mata Arba, Saleti and Korbesa settlements.
NDMA covered the environmental impact assessment, community sensitisation, training of the project management committee and laying of a 13km-long pipeline from the borehole to the booster station at Mata Arba. Additionally, the Authority constructed the 231,000-litre ground steel tank and provided two patrol motorcycles. The project has leveraged green energy in the form of solar power to pump water from the borehole to various centres and the booster tank, which also saves running costs.
Previously, the Government and non-state actors would spend between KSh20 million to KSh50 million annually on water trucking.
Arduous search for water
Women in this area recall having to walk long distances in search of water and how they would leave at dawn only to return at dusk.
“We relied on hand-dug wells in dry river beds and would often experience conflicts between those fetching water for household use and herders over the order of priority,” recalls Ms. Nuria Tari, 50.
Children, she adds, were left alone at home as their mothers went to search for water. However, with a watering point a stone’s throw away from the village, mothers now have more time with their children and husbands.
Ms. Nuria adds that she used to spend an average of KSh75 daily on water when she could personally go fetching for the same, but has since diverted the money to catering for her household needs.
At the age of 52, Ms. Halima Wako cannot carry a 20-litre jerrican of water from the watering point to her home barely 200 meters away. She associates a chronic backache to the long trekking distance in search of water during her younger years.
“Some women would suffer abortions while walking either to or from the wells,” recalls Ms. Halima, adding that women would barely have time for rest as they were either fetching water or attending to household chores.
Mata Arba Senior Chief Ibrahim Huka recalls how he would often have to solve conflicts as communities differed over water.
“I used to have numerous sittings with elders because some conflicts involved residents from different locations but the disputes have reduced significantly as water is abundant,” recalls Mr. Huka.
At a nearby health centre, it was a nightmare, especially for new mothers who would have to recycle bathing water or sometimes go without showering. This too has become history, thanks to the new water project.
Water connection to schools has boosted attendance and enrollment. Moreover, implementation of the school feeding programme is more efficient due to water availability while students, especially under the current Competency-Based Curriculum, can now execute projects that require water.
“We relied on hand-dug wells in dry river beds and would often experience conflicts between those fetching water for household use and herders as each sought to be first at the well,” – Ms. Nuria Tari – beneficiary”