Long term water solutions for East Pokot

East Pokot residents continue to suffer from harsh climate conditions such as high temperatures, poor quality of soil and insufficient rainfall. The water borehole constructed through the support of World Vision benefits 2,500 people and four schools, as well as almost 30,000 livestock. 

It is certainly a breath of fresh air as I watch little Kemoye Ngorianyang from East Pokot, six years old, bend down to quench his thirst at Ngoron water borehole point. 

Kemoye is taking a break from playing with his friend Pikamin, to get a drink of water. Luckily for him, the water is just five seconds away. Kemoye carefully washes his hands and then clasps them together as the clean and crystal clear water flows from the tap. Then he takes a fill and drinks.

“The water tastes so good, nothing compared to what we drank before,” he says.

“Before we had this water, we went to the river bed and had to scoop sand and deep into the ground before we could strike water.” 

He is also very much relieved. “We used to come under attack from bees when we went looking for water, but it is safe here,” Kemoye shyly says, through a translator. 

With the high soaring temperatures, what Kemoye needs is constant rehydration. He has not had breakfast, not surprisingly, but looking at him, he is full of energy, his skin looked healthy and his face, happy, and he continues to play with his friend. 

Harsh climate conditions continue

East Pokot residents continue to suffer from harsh climate conditions such as high temperatures, poor quality of soil, insufficient rainfalls and sometimes failed rains altogether. 

In 2011, the rains failed for the third consecutive time and water became scarce. World Vision worked to provide clean and safe water through water trucking - transporting water to centres through trucks and distributing to residents. This response, residents say, saved their lives and livelihoods. 

William Chebii, Program Manager for Kolowa, a World Vision Project area in East Pokot, says the completion of the Ngoron water borehole at a cost US $65,000 could not have come at a better time. 

Last year, between February and September, most residents had moved out of the district with their livestock in a desperate search for water. Those who dared remain behind had to contend with dirty and contaminated water from deplorable unprotected sources that were quickly drying up, William explains. 

The water borehole constructed through the support of World Vision benefits 2,500 people and four schools. In addition to this, 29,350 livestock also depend on the water borehole.

“Currently we are not doing emergency water trucking; instead we decided to invest in long-term interventions. World Vision has rehabilitated 11 shallow wells, surface dams and completed several boreholes and now residents and livestock are water secure,” William says.

Boreholes and tanks last longer

“Last year, we also distributed water tanks to schools to enable them to collect and store rain water. We received some rains between October and December, and I am confident this will help reduce the effects of the drought,” William further says. 

Amos Mariba, a government official that World Vision works closely with in East Pokot, also says the water situation is better. “The once dry water sources have been refilled following the short rains season of October-to-December,” Amos says. 

Unfortunately, the lands are once again dry and parched- a red alert of a possible food crisis; especially should the April long rains fail. 

“The rains came but our excitement of the projected positive impact were short-lived, before we knew it, the lands were already very dry with no grass for our livestock,” says Selina Lumada, a mother of eight from Chebkuku in East Pokot. 

While there is water for now, the district steering group - a technical advisory arm of the government that coordinates responses - says it will at least last them until April, when the next rains are expected.