Residents of Singiraine in Kajiado West Sub County are grappling with acute water shortages, even as the prolonged dry spell continues to strain access to the precious commodity.
The situation has forced residents to travel approximately 45 kilometres in search of water, with some waking up as early as 3am to make the journey, often risking encounters with wild animals along the way.
Elizabeth Nkopo, a resident of Singiraine, said the search for water had become a daily struggle, disrupting household activities and livelihoods.
“We usually load our donkeys at 3am and set off to fetch water. Sometimes we encounter elephants along the way, and we are forced to return home without water, affecting our normal activities,” she said.
Nkopo lamented that the only solar-powered borehole they can depend on serves eight other villages, resulting in long queues for both people and livestock.
Another resident, James Sororo, said the cost of accessing water had become unbearable, with a 20-litre jerrycan now retailing at Sh150.
He said the little water they can afford to purchase was insufficient to meet their household and livestock needs, thus risking their livelihoods.
The crisis has reportedly worsened following the closure of Tata Chemicals Magadi by the Ministry of Mining over compliance issues, disrupting the water supply previously transported by train and distributed through various storage points.
“Water has become like gold to us. Since the company was closed, we have been forced to buy a jerrycan at Sh150, yet this is not enough for both domestic and livestock use,” Sororo said.
He added that the shortage has heightened human/wildlife conflicts in the area as elephants also venture into villages in search of water.
However, Singiraine residents are expected to begin receiving government-supplied water this week through the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA).
Speaking to Kenya News Agency (KNA) by phone, TWWDA Chief Executive Officer Sammy Naporos said the government was moving to ease the water crisis through emergency water deliveries, even as it works towards sustainable solutions.
The intervention follows the deployment of two water bowsers with a combined capacity of 80,000 litres to supply water to 25 schools serving approximately 5,400 pupils and 12,000 community members in Olkeri, Oldonyo Onyokie and the affected communities.
The six-month intervention, which began two months ago, is intended to ease the immediate water shortage as the government pursues long-term solutions.
Naporos said the agency was also planning medium-term interventions, including the rehabilitation of the Olkeri and Naserian water lines to expand access to water for more residents.
Currently, TWWDA sources water from Ngurumani Springs and Oloibor Toto through a 34-kilometre pipeline.
In the long run, the government plans to construct the proposed Ewuaso Ng’iro multipurpose dam, which is expected to serve Kajiado West in Kajiado County, as well as Narok South and Narok East constituencies in Narok County.
The proposed dam is expected to provide a more sustainable water supply to communities that have long struggled with recurrent shortages, particularly during prolonged dry spells.
By Diana Meneto
