New borehole benefits more than 5,000 people in Kenya

A partnership between Tatu City and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has seen the rehabilitation of a key borehole in Masol Ward, West Pokot County, Kenya, benefiting more than 5,000 people. The project was made possible with a KES 3 million donation by Tatu City.

The rehabilitation works were completed in February 2018 and the borehole is currently benefiting the residents in the area, including 158 pupils at the nearby Kokwokochiye Primary School.

“The borehole has been a blessing to the school and as such the attendance has improved. Tunashukuru sana KRCS and Tatu City, kwa msaada na wazidi kusaidia wengine wenye hawajiwezi,” said Lokisor Julius Head teacher from Kokwokochy Primary School.

“There has been a tremendous impact. The distance of travel to the nearest water source has reduced from eight kilometres to less than one. The community can now allocate more time to other productive communal activities,” said Christopher Mckenzy Okotch, Kenya Red Cross Society.

The project involved the rehabilitation of a borehole, elevation of a water tank on a steel tower, construction of a water kiosk, construction of a water trough benefiting over 15,000 animals daily, pipeline extension to the school and installation of solar panels to enable maximum use of the water point.

“We are honoured to have been able to complete this project and provide clean water to the community. Installation of the borehole was one step toward ensuring people in drought prone areas have a chance of living a good quality of life,” said Nick Langford, Kenya Country Head for Rendeavour, the developer of Tatu City.

Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home, affecting their health, education, and livelihoods. Climate change, deforestation, and urbanisation, amongst other reasons, have depleted the water resources, which were previously available.