Working alongside local communities and government authorities, Oxfam will deliver year-round water supplies to 11 drought-prone communities. This includes drilling seven deep boreholes, and upgrading two existing water points, each with solar-powered pumps, which will greatly reduce ongoing operating costs and ease the pressure on existing wells. Village water committees will be trained to manage and maintain the facilities.

The new systems supplying clean, safe water will reduce the incidence of illnesses such as cholera, diarrhoea and trachoma. It will improve communities' chances to escape poverty by keeping the livestock herds they rely on healthy. It will also halve the time needed to collect water - especially for women and children - freeing up more time for income generation and education.

Oxfam has over 40 years experience in Turkana. This project is part of Oxfam's long-term programme to expand livelihood opportunities and to make communities more resilient, to try to break the cycle of recurring droughts and acute poverty. It will be implemented in close collaboration with local communities and the Rift Valley Water Services Board (water authority).

Project aims

• Improve the availability of clean, safe drinking water in an environmentally sustainable way.
• Reduce the risk of water-related infections and diseases.
• Ensure the effective future management and maintenance of water sources by local communities, especially women. 

In 2009, Oxfam drilled a borehole near Awesit Kinei's village, where 3,000 villagers previously had little option but to drink dirty, contaminated water and illness, like diarrhea were rife. This year, the borehole will be fitted with a solar pump, to pump water straight to the village.

Download the full Kenya project details (791KB PDF)

Companies:

Kimberly Haynes - khaynes@oxfam.org.uk
01865 472431

If you're based in Scotland:

Annie Lewis - alewis@oxfam.org.uk
0141 285 8873