TURKANA, Kenya – Since the 1960s, there has been extensive documentation of droughts in Kenya’s Turkana region, which is estimated to happen every five years.
However, droughts have been a yearly occurrence since the 1990s. By the middle of 2022, an estimated 439,400 cattle had perished due to the most recent drought, which started in 2020.
Given the significance of cattle in this area, conflicts amongst pastoralists over essential resources have been sparked by a food and water scarcity problem.
However, thanks to the government and well-wishers, this might be a thing of the past, especially in remote areas where water projects are proliferating.
For instance, in the remote village of Ayanae Ekalale, Turkana County, access to clean water was once a distant dream.
Y News understands that residents relied on seasonal holes, gathering scarce water for their daily needs.
How things have changed in Ayanae Ekalale village
But thanks to the Enhancing Water Access and Systems Strengthening in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas (EWASSA) project, led by Practical Action in Kenya in partnership with the Grundfos Foundation | PDJF, that has all changed!
The vision of a solar-powered borehole was shared at a community forum, bringing hope to the village.
The borehole was successfully drilled with generous support from Loperen Ekai’s family, and the community formed a committee of water service providers.
Trained in essential skills, the committee manages the borehole, promotes water conservation, and supports local livelihoods.
“The impact of this project has been transformative,” says Josephine Ekiru, a committee member.
In her own words, Ekiru explained:
“We no longer struggle for water. We grow our food, and sanitation has improved immensely.”
Why Ayanae Ekalale’s women can breathe a sigh of relief
According to Dinah Amana, the treasurer of the Water Service Provider committee, women used to trek long distances in search of water.
“Now they have more time for their families and economic activities,” Amana said.
Today, around 48 families enjoy water taps at their doorsteps, and those in need receive water for free.
Turkana is widely recognized as “the cradle of mankind,” and prolific evidence of the existence of hominids, dating back over four million years, has been found here.
The people inhabiting this region are nomadic pastoralists, relying on the animals they raise for food and income.
They move two to three times yearly to avoid exhausting the land’s resources and traditionally chase the rain with their livestock.
What is the process of constructing water boreholes
There is little point in drilling a borehole if there is no water underground, so starting the process with a geological survey and vertical electrical sounding is usual.
The VES sounding attempts to map water availability by taking resistivity measurements using probes at a distance apart.
Drilling a hole into the ground to reach aquifers is the second step in building a solar-powered water borehole.
After drilling, the borehole must be enclosed with steel casing to keep it from collapsing and filter out sand particles that could harm the pump.
A submersible pump driven by solar panels is then installed in the borehole.
To effectively channel energy to the pump used in water extraction, solar arrays are erected on racking systems made to endure external conditions.
How Turkana County has flourished amid new waterpoints
A recent visit by Y News to the region in the northwestern corner of the country, bordering Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda, revealed that the community has flourished, with new modern homes, churches, and a school benefiting from the clean water.
“Our livestock are healthier, and our livelihoods are more secure,” notes Loperen Ekai, the committee chairman.
Meanwhile, the Turkana South water supply project at Lopur village in Korinyang has been upgraded to provide a steady water supply to the villages and the surrounding areas.
The County Department of Water Services and USAID Livestock Market Systems (LMS) have invested Sh 4 million for the upgrade.
Y News gathered that these ambitious projects in Kenya’s largest county serve 10,000 people and 2,000 livestock units.
The water supply system has been revamped and fitted with lockable taps, a water control slab, an 18-panel solar system, and a three-kilometre pipeline extension.
How other water projects have greatly benefited Turkana County
The scope of works also included a 20,000-litre elevated steel tank and fencing of the water source point to protect resources and prevent pollution.
Chief Officer for Water Services, David Maraka, said the residents are now assured of clean and safe drinking water, livestock use, and small-scale agriculture.
He added that the intervention was a great reprieve to Lopur village and the surrounding areas, which initially relied on untreated water flowing into the nearby irrigation canal.
The LMS Project WASH Specialist, Eng James Nachule, said the intervention also included a water quality analysis, which revealed that the water was fit for human consumption.
According to Nachule, the Lopur project was one of ten projects under the WASH program being implemented by the USAID LMS across Turkana.
Back in Ayanae Ekalale, the EWASSA project improved water access and transformed the area into a vibrant hub of growth and development.
As Loperen puts it: “The EWASSA project has given us hope and a future. We are grateful to Practical Action for positively changing our lives.”
