A Year Later: A Thriving Farm and Income Stability!

Before we installed a new sand dam and shallow well in Mbitini, people had to walk for kilometers at a time just to fetch a single jerrycan of water.

"I had to go fetch water to drink and cook at [the] Mbitini River, but I returned home feeling exhausted due to the long distance under the burning sun," said Gabriel. "I used to walk several kilometers to the scoop [hole], which was contaminated because it was shared with livestock that would excrete inside the water. This exposed me and my family to infections like typhoid and amoeba. Treating such diseases was challenging because we had meager finances thanks to the adverse effects of this region’s rampant semi-arid and arid climate.”

But now that water is available, waterborne diseases are a thing of the past in Mbitini. With water closeby and better hygiene practices in place, Gabriel has more time to focus on things that matter.

“I am now able to get water for cooking, drinking, and irrigating my crops easily and within a short time, because the shallow well is close to my home and garden," Gabriel explained. "I also get more time and energy to focus on activities like tree-planting, cultivating kitchen gardens, and crop cultivation. I have planted various crops such as kale, tomatoes, coriander, and fruit trees (pawpaw and mangoes). This waterpoint also enables proper hygiene and sanitation (both personal and general) because it offers sufficient water.”

Thankfully, all these improvements have given Gabriel more stability to provide for his household.

“This water point has enabled [me to] acquire an income because I sell the produce from my farm to several community members," Gabriel said. "This enables [me to] reap about ksh 500 per week, thus enabling [my] income stability. I have relocated back home permanently [because I am no] longer depending on blue-collar jobs. This is because this sand dam holds enough water to irrigate my crops."

Note: The system has visible rust due to the presence of iron in the water. While iron found in drinking water is usually an aesthetic quality, the community can still use the water without concern for health issues. This project type was designed to protect against outside contamination and provide safer water than the unprotected sources this community may have been using. We will continue to keep a close eye on the water quality of this water system through our quarterly monitoring program.

Gabriel, right, pumps water at the well for his fellow community member, David.