We arrived on time in Nairobi at about 9:40 where we met the East Africa Director for LWR, George Odhiambo. Our driver, Daniel, took us directly to Makindu which is about 2 ½ hours to the east.  Makindu is part of the East Africa Drought Project for LWR.  We visited the village of Ndukangeuke, where the LWR has helped the community organize a Self Help Group. Jack Mulwa, the chairperson of the Group, greeted us and explained its operation.  They started up about 3 years ago with only 44 members. That number has now grown to over 350, representing about 2/3 of the community.  Each member contributes a small amount (20 Kenyan schillings, about $.25) per month and the group as a whole determines how it is used, from agricultural needs to education to specific family support.  Education and accountability are key elements of their operation.  We spoke with six people of the governing committee, including two women, one of whom serves as the treasurer.

This area is plagued by low annual rainfall, about 8-12 inches annually. When it does rain, it rains heavily for a short time period, so river flooding often occurs.  A river (normally dry except during the rainy period) runs nearby.  Often, community members go to the dry river bed and dig sand holes to try to locate water for their families.  LWR is working with the community to construct 6 new check dams along the river.  Large pools of water created during the rainy season can be used for crop irrigation, recharging the sub-surface water table and maintaining livestock during the dry season.

The community already has experience with a check dam, as one was constructed by the government last year.  It is being used for cattle and irrigation by nearby farmers.  The LWR project would add 6 more just like this one at different points along the river:

After viewing the first check dam constructed by the government, we also visit an aborted hand-dug well started by the community.  It is close to the river, so they hit a water source at about 25 feet.  However, because the community did not have the technical expertise to finish the well with the water running into it, the effort was abandoned.  This is still encouraging to us, though, because of the amount of water flow found close to the surface.  LWR has conducted an assessment of the area and six locations have been deemed suitable for hand-dug wells. 

After visiting the abandoned well site, we walked farther up the river and got to see several sites where the new check dams will be located and where additional HDW sites could be placed for easy access by the community.

We had a chance to discuss the need to set up the water committees for projects, conduct WASH training and build a community maintenance fund for sustainability.  Because this community already collects a monthly amount, they were confident they could do so.

Without any viable source of clean water today, 6 HDW wells in this community could provide much needed relief during the long dry season. In addition, the check dams are an excellent way to ensure the aquifers in the area are recharged each rainy season.

 

More to come,

Dick Moeller

President of Water to Thrive

We arrived on time in Nairobi at about 9:40 where we met the East Africa Director for LWR, George Odhiambo. Our driver, Daniel, took us directly to Makindu which is about 2 ½ hours to the east.  Makindu is part of the East Africa Drought Project for LWR.  We visited the village of Ndukangeuke, where the LWR has helped the community organize a Self Help Group. Jack Mulwa, the chairperson of the Group, greeted us and explained its operation.  They started up about 3 years ago with only 44 members. That number has now grown to over 350, representing about 2/3 of the community.  Each member contributes a small amount (20 Kenyan schillings, about $.25) per month and the group as a whole determines how it is used, from agricultural needs to education to specific family support.  Education and accountability are key elements of their operation.  We spoke with six people of the governing committee, including two women, one of whom serves as the treasurer.

This area is plagued by low annual rainfall, about 8-12 inches annually. When it does rain, it rains heavily for a short time period, so river flooding often occurs.  A river (normally dry except during the rainy period) runs nearby.  Often, community members go to the dry river bed and dig sand holes to try to locate water for their families.  LWR is working with the community to construct 6 new check dams along the river.  Large pools of water created during the rainy season can be used for crop irrigation, recharging the sub-surface water table and maintaining livestock during the dry season.

The community already has experience with a check dam, as one was constructed by the government last year.  It is being used for cattle and irrigation by nearby farmers.  The LWR project would add 6 more just like this one at different points along the river:

After viewing the first check dam constructed by the government, we also visit an aborted hand-dug well started by the community.  It is close to the river, so they hit a water source at about 25 feet.  However, because the community did not have the technical expertise to finish the well with the water running into it, the effort was abandoned.  This is still encouraging to us, though, because of the amount of water flow found close to the surface.  LWR has conducted an assessment of the area and six locations have been deemed suitable for hand-dug wells. 

After visiting the abandoned well site, we walked farther up the river and got to see several sites where the new check dams will be located and where additional HDW sites could be placed for easy access by the community.

We had a chance to discuss the need to set up the water committees for projects, conduct WASH training and build a community maintenance fund for sustainability.  Because this community already collects a monthly amount, they were confident they could do so.

Without any viable source of clean water today, 6 HDW wells in this community could provide much needed relief during the long dry season. In addition, the check dams are an excellent way to ensure the aquifers in the area are recharged each rainy season.

 

More to come,

Dick Moeller

President of Water to Thrive