Nzakya Community 2A

The Nzakya Community, which includes 1,800 people, is in a semi-arid region of Southeastern Kenya. This corner of the world is very dry, and people struggle daily to access sufficient water to meet their needs.

A community member collects water from a scoop hole.

For water, community members can either go to a very distant well or use scoop holes in sandy river beds, but both options present serious concerns. The well is far away, so collecting water from there consumes much of their time. The scoop holes, are used by people and animals alike looking to quench their thirst so they are contaminated. No matter where they go to find water, the journey is arduous, and the journey home carrying heavy containers of water in the hot sun is even worse.

Field Officer Jefferson Mutie shared, "In this area, the rocky and uneven terrain poses significant challenges for water collection. The hard, impervious surface prevents water from easily soaking into the ground, causing it to flow quickly away. Additionally, the slopes and rugged landscape create rapid runoff, which makes it difficult to capture and store water effectively."

"Water sourced from a scoop hole often presents several sensory issues that raise concerns about its quality and safety. The appearance of the water is typically turbid, with a noticeable cloudiness due to suspended sediments and organic matter. The taste of the water from a scoop hole is often described as earthy or metallic, which can be unappealing and indicative of mineral content or microbial presence. These sensory characteristics not only make the water less palatable but also highlight the necessity for treatment before consumption to ensure safety and improve overall water quality," continued Jefferson.

Mutembi.

16-year-old Mutembei described the challenges he faces trying to collect sufficient water for his family.

"The scoop hole is always marked by the presence of many people who come to fetch water from the community. First, the trek is around 1.5 km (almost a mile away!), with poor terrain marked with rocks and dusty roads. Secondly, the process of collecting water isn't straightforward. The water level can be low, making it difficult to fill our containers quickly. We sometimes have to wait our turn as many others from the community are also there to fetch water. This can lead to long queues, especially during dry seasons when the water is scarce," Mutembei shared.

Mutembi.

"I am worried about the water from the scoop hole, as it is open to contamination, and my parents prefer it to the shallow well one as it is very far from us. The scoop hole water also poses waterborne diseases that can even be a lifetime one, and others can lead to poor school performance, which is my greatest fear," he continued.

Water scarcity also causes conflict among community members.

Mutembi said, "At the scoop hole water source, we have no defined order for members to fetch water. Many times, it's always the fight for survival. I was once bullied by the big community members, who made me feel bad by taking my spot in fetching water. I even cried, but no one could help me."

Fear and frustration taint Mutembei's every day.

"Most days, I would leave home in the morning [for school] with a message that I should come home very early to fetch water. This sentiment used to run in my head throughout the day; even during classes. My concentration would go down. Having less time to do my homework after school always gave me and my teachers a hard time, as we'd be quarreling, and this made my grades drop."

Implementing a sand dam in conjunction with a well will provide Mutembi with an accessible water source. He won't have to walk miles every day to collect water. With his water needs more easily met, he will work hard in school and play with his friends—two crucial aspects of childhood!

"The new water point will provide clean water, promising me health security, and also, the distance will be significantly shorter. The terrain is much better, making me feel safe while fetching water. I would use that time to help my mother work on our farm and also get time to play with my friends," he added.

Mutembei at the well, almost a mile away from home.

Solving the water crisis in this community will require a multifaceted system that will work together to create a sustainable water source that will serve this community for years to come.

Steps Toward a Solution

Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. Together, they decided to construct a sand dam and a protected dug well.

Sand Dam
Sand dams are sought-after, climate-smart, and lasting water solutions, providing hope and resilience to communities in arid Southeastern Kenya. Think of them like giant sandboxes constructed in seasonal rivers that would typically quickly dry up after the rainy season. Instead of holding water like traditional dams, they collect sand and silt.

When infrequent rains do come, these dams catch a percentage of the river's flow, letting most of the water continue downstream to other communities. But here's the magic: the sand they collect acts like a natural filter, holding onto water long after the river's gone dry. Then, wells are constructed nearby, creating a reliable water source even during the driest times.

And the benefits don't stop there! In communities impacted by climate change, sand dams replenish groundwater and prevent soil erosion. Even during severe droughts, the consistent water supply from these sand dams allows farmers to thrive, giving way for enough food not only for their families but also to sell in local markets.

The most remarkable aspect of sand dams is how they involve the local community every step of the way, giving them a sense of ownership and pride in solving their own water shortage and managing their own water resources.

This sand dam will be connected to a protected dug well to make the water more accessible.

What Makes This Project Unique
In sand dams with an adequate supply, a submersible pump can be installed to tap into the underground water and pipe it into public piped water kiosks. These kiosks expand the reach of this water infrastructure, allowing more people to access clean, reliable water closer to home. The size and location of this sand dam give us hope that it will hold a lot of water when it matures - possibly even enough to pipe water to the community in the future. In anticipation of that, we are installing some extra infrastructure that would enable the future development of solar-powered water kiosks.

Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.

Project Updates

January, 2026: Nzakya Community Sand Dam Complete!

Nzakya, Kenya now has access to a new water source thanks to your donation! We constructed a sand dam on the riverbed, which will raise the water table and allow the water to naturally filter over time. We also built a new protected dug well with a hand pump adjacent to the sand dam, providing the community with a safer method to draw the drinking water supplied by the dam.

"Before this project, getting clean water was a real struggle for us. We relied on the first sand dam, but it could not serve everyone, so some of us still had to walk long distances to scoop holes. The water there was dirty, cloudy, and sometimes had an unpleasant taste, making it unsafe to drink. This made life difficult, especially for women and children who spent many hours fetching water. With the new sand dam and shallow well, I believe those challenges will finally be reduced. We will now have clean water close to our homes for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, and we won’t have to waste time and energy walking long distances every day," said 49-year-old farmer Peris Mwaniki.

Peris Mwaniki.

"Having enough water nearby will change so much in our lives. Our children will no longer wake up early or get home late because of fetching water. They will have more time to study and rest, which will help them perform better in school. As a mother and community leader, I see this as a chance to improve our livelihoods. With water available, we can now plant trees, grow vegetables, and even set up kitchen gardens in our homes. This will not only improve our food supply but also help our environment become greener and cooler. Access to clean water will mean fewer illnesses, allowing both children and adults to focus on their goals and dreams," Peris celebrated.

Sand Dam Construction

The members of the Nzakya Self-Help Group collected all the local materials, such as rocks and sand, required to complete the dam. The collection of raw materials takes longer than the actual construction, lasting up to four months for a large sand dam. The group also dedicated a tremendous amount of time to supporting our artisans through physical labor throughout the project.

"The community’s participation in the material-gathering and construction process was commendable and showed strong commitment despite some challenges. Their willingness to contribute unskilled labour daily demonstrated teamwork and a shared sense of responsibility for the success of the sand dam and shallow well," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.

First, our team developed the siting and technical designs, which were then presented to the Water Resources Management Authority. We then sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before beginning construction.

Once the plans were approved, we established a firm base for the sand dam wall. Usually, this requires the community to dig all the way down to the bedrock beneath the river channel. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is compact enough to stop seepage.

Next, we heaped mortar (a mixture of sand, cement, and water) into the foundation, followed by the addition of rocks. We then used barbed wire and rebar to reinforce the mixture.

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold the structure above ground level. We 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 18 meters long and 3 meters high and took 709 bags of cement.

When the rains come, sand and silt will be carried down the dry riverbed and build up behind the dam wall. This reservoir of sand acts as a giant natural filter, allowing rainwater to seep into the ground and raise the water table. With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will provide the community with drinking water. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach its maximum capacity, because in this region, it sometimes only rains once a year!

Community Education

Our trainer collaborated with the field staff and community members to identify areas where the community could improve.

We trained the group on various skills, including bookkeeping, financial management, project management, group dynamics, and governance. We conducted hygiene and sanitation training to teach skills such as soap and detergent making and to improve habits, including handwashing.

We covered health problems in the community, including good and bad hygiene habits, as well as the prevention of disease. Finally, we covered both natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

"The most interesting topic for me was soapmaking and latrine disinfectant making. I really enjoyed this part because it was both practical and useful for our everyday lives. Learning how to make soap and disinfectant from locally available materials opened my eyes to how we can keep our homes clean and create a small source of income. I learned about the right measurements, mixing process, and safety precautions to observe during production. It was exciting to see how simple ingredients could turn into something valuable that helps improve hygiene in our homes and schools. This topic stood out to me because it connects good hygiene practices with financial empowerment, which means we can stay healthy and also earn something small to support our families," said Peris, quoted earlier, who was voted the hygiene training self-help group chairperson.

"Members participated actively in sessions like soap and latrine disinfectant making, and their chairperson, Peris, expressed a clear vision for the future — including using water for tree planting, kitchen gardening, and income generation through water sales and table banking. This demonstrates not only a desire for improved living standards but also a readiness to use available resources sustainably," said field officer Alex.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

December, 2025: Exciting Progress in Nzakya Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Mutembei and the entire Nzakya Community. Construction has begun on the sand dam project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in the Nzakya Community!