Enomat Kaikeny watches with pride as his herd of cattle and sheep take water in turns at a watering trough in the interior parts of Turkana North subcounty.
A year ago, this was just a dream in a village located 120 km north of Lodwar, the county headquarters.
Kaikeny recalls how he used to trek over 30 km in search of water for his livestock. This had not only caused untold physical strain on him but also affected the health of his flock. Many were the times when he watched helplessly as his herd fell by the wayside, succumbing to the biting drought.
On this sunny Friday morning, he is not alone. He is among scores of herders at Nalekan village who merrily bring their livestock to the watering point. The Nayanae Epuol borehole, drilled by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), offers a lifeline to hundreds of herders and households in this region.
Drilled in 2024, the borehole supports about 50,000 livestock including sheep, goats and donkeys. It is also a source of water for 2,500 households. Water piping has enabled residents of Nalekan village, which is 6 km away to access the clean water.
The borehole produces 24,000 litres per hour. Kaikeny is joined by Nangolo Ewoi Tuko and Angeline Nangolol who are also at the watering point to water their livestock.
Kerio Valley Development Authority Managing Director Sammy Naporos said the Authority has invested at least Sh200 million in 17 water projects benefiting 204,000 people and 300,000 livestock across the county.
According to Naporos these efforts are meant to alleviate biting water shortage in the area and persistent suffering of the local residents whose main economic stay is pastoralism.
KVDA Board Chairman Mark Chesergon said the board is committed to solving the water issues in the county.
Another village that has benefited courtesy of KVDA intervention in the water sector is Kalodekei village, in Loma subcounty.
Esther Akai is also one such beneficiary of the borehole. Akai says the borehole has saved residents enormous time spent searching for water.
“We are also able to grow our vegetables which we feed to our families and sell the surplus,” says Akai.
As the interview goes on, James Emuron walks to the watering trough behind his 10 camels.
Emuron watches with satisfaction as his camels drink water. “This borehole has really helped us; we used to lose our livestock during drought. This is now a thing of the past,” says Emuron.
Turkana County is one of the water-scarce counties in Kenya. The arid and semi-arid conditions are compounded by the vastness which leads to budgetary constraints in addressing the water challenge in the north-western county.
By Peter Gitonga
