This project is part of IcFEM's WaSH program, which includes multiple water source schemes as well as substantial community level hygiene promotion, and training on project operation and maintenance.
What follows is a brief project outline direct from our partner:
The borehole is located in Siboti village of Bumula District in Bungoma County. The area is largely known for agriculture especially maize, beans, bananas, sorghum and livestock production.
The area has two rainy seasons with an average rainfall of between 1,200mm to 1,800mm per annum. The majority of the population in this area are very poor, only practicing subsistence farming to sustain their large families.
Lurende borehole was constructed by KEFINCO in 1992 to help the villagers who did not have a clean source of water for domestic use. It is the only source of water for the residents; the other source being a primary school well 4 kilometres away and which dries up during the dry season.
The borehole pump has been out of service since 2004 and parts of the pump are kept in a neighbour’s compound. However, the community continues to use the borehole which flows with water throughout the year because it’s built on marshy ground. They lift the lid and use cups or small containers to draw water from the borehole.
The main reason for the dysfunctional site was the weak water committee responsible for running the borehole which did not understand its role. The members lost hope and abandoned the work.
The community says it has learned from its mistakes and is willing to move on by securing the site for their use and future generations. IcFEM are committed to building the capacity of the committee to ensure that ongoing management of the facility is done to a high standard.