August, 2021: Kaketi Community B Sand Dam Complete!

Kaketi Community, Kenya now has access to a new source of water thanks to your donation. We constructed a new sand dam on the riverbed, which will build up sand to raise the water table and naturally filter water. We also constructed a new hand-dug well with a hand pump adjacent to the sand dam, providing the community with a safer method to draw drinking water supplied by the dam.

"I was used to walking for very long distances to fetch water for drinking, cooking, and for general hygiene and sanitation practices at my home," said Josephine Liku, a community and Self-Help Group member.

"Now, I will fetch water at my comfort, at any time of the day, and with no limit because the water point is adjacent to my home. I will improve my personal hygiene by washing clothes often, bathing on a daily basis, and also clean my household surfaces daily."

Another community member, Mutinda Mateng'e, said, "I am very happy about this project and the benefits that I will gain from it. The sand dam will enable me to engage in farming practices easily. I will also utilize the water for household chores, and I will not have to trek for long distances as we used to do in the previous years."

Sand Dam Construction Process

The community members collected all of the local materials like rocks and sand required to complete the dam. The collection of raw construction materials takes longer than the actual construction, lasting up to four months for a large sand dam. The group also dedicated their time and energy to support our artisans with physical labor throughout the project.

First, our team drew siting and technical designs and presented them to the Water Resources Management Authority. We also sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before we began construction. Once approved, we established firm bedrock at the base of the sand dam wall. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is firm enough to stop seepage.

Next, we mixed and heaped mortar (a mixture of sand, cement, and water) into the foundation, followed by rocks once there was enough mortar to hold them. We then used barbed wire and rebar to reinforce the mixture.

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold up the sludge and rocks above ground level. We then repeated the process until reaching a sufficient height, width, and length. Finally, we dismantled the vertical timber beams and left the dam to cure. This dam measures 34 meters long and 5 meters high. It took 451 bags of cement to build.

As soon as it rains, the dam will build up sand and store water. With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile and the well will provide drinking water to the community. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because sometimes it only rains once a year!

We worked with the Kalawa People Living with HIV Self-Help Group for this project. The members and their families contributed materials and a tremendous amount of physical labor to complete the project. We trained the group on various skills, including bookkeeping, financial management, project management, group dynamics, and governance.

The community members expressed their gratitude for the continuous support granted to ensure their region has sufficient water for drinking, cooking, livestock, and establishing proper hygiene and sanitation.

"I plan to use the water to establish a vegetable garden," said Josephine. "I will plant spinach, kale, onions, and tomatoes for domestic use as well as reduce the time I spent walking to far markets."

"I plan to use the water from the project to farm," said Mutinda. "I will plant vegetables on a large scale, as I have a huge piece of land that has been idle for a while. I will utilize this water project very efficiently."

We also conducted hygiene and sanitation training to teach skills like soapmaking and improve behaviors such as handwashing.

New Knowledge

Our trainer conferred with the field staff about their previous visits to households and interviews with community members to determine which topics the community could improve upon. As we've worked with this community in the past, this was a refresher training to fill in gaps in knowledge.

We decided to train on health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene behaviors, the spread and prevention of disease, sanitation improvements,  planning for behavioral change, handwashing, and soap-making.

The training took place at Mr. Benson Ndaka’s homestead, who is the group's Chairman. On the training day, the weather was quite favorable, as it was sunny and cool. The compound had abundant tree cover that sheltered all the members from the scorching rays of the sun when it got hotter.

Community members really appreciated the WASH Training, as they acquired helpful skills that will enable them to generate more income, which will go a long way in improving their living standards.

The attendees were very active and jovial throughout the training session: they asked questions and aired concerns about some of the sensitive areas of hygiene and sanitation.

While making the latrine disinfectant, the members said that as a result of the continuous usage of the latrine disinfectant, which they learned from the previous WASH Training, they no longer have rodents like rats, snakes, and even cockroaches in their toilets.

"The whole community has transformed in terms of hygiene and sanitation," said Benson. "It’s now routinely known that hand washing at all times is very vital. We have been acting as the change agents in this region to the rest of the community members by educating them on best practices. The community greatly appreciates the work of the organization in the provision of protected water sources."

"With the availability of water, I will start making soap for sale," said Josephine. "The raw materials are readily available."

When an issue arises concerning the sand dam, the group members are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure it works appropriately. However, if the issue is beyond their capabilities, they can contact our field officers to assist them.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

July, 2021: Kaketi Community sand dam underway!

A severe clean water shortage in Keketi, Kenya drains peoples’ time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!