By Mary Mwendwa
Kamurio Village in East Pokot, Baringo County can now breathe a sigh of relief after a water project that uses solar energy came to their rescue. A semi –Arid region that experiences very little rain with very porous borders where cattle rustling are rampant has for a long time been known for its water scarcity.
One takes around 30 km drive from Chemolingot Town on a rough rocky terrain that has seasonal rivers with think bushes .Life here is totally dependent on livestock farming with very few people in crop farming and only those near river banks.
Residents here have sad tales of how water shortage has caused havoc in their lives for a long time. One such resident is Eunice Kiror,chairlady Kalya Water Project , a mother of five who has lived in Kamurio village since she was born.”Drought and famine is a common occurrence here,it gets worse at particular times of the year and we are left with nothing even our livestock starve to death.
This water project that uses solar energy to pump water has really come to our rescue, we get water very close to us, we used to trek for very long distance to access water and this conflicts are usually as a result of shortage of water and pasture. At family level iam happy and able to do my house chores with ease because I get water from this water point.”A happy Eunice expresses her gratitude towards the water project.
Similarly Ruth Tumoro, committee member of the water project confirms how the water project has transformed lives in their village.”This village is very remote, we have no roads,no electricity no phone network and many basic things are a luxury to us. When this water project which uses solar came we were relieved from walking very long distance searching for water .Diseases like Cholera and typhoid were very common because there was no clean water. Now we are safe we get clean water from the borehole and all is well, we are even planning to start a horticulture project to be planting vegetables and other crops to supplement livestock farming which is our main livelihood here.”She says.
The borehole serves a dispensary and Kamurio primary school who get to benefit from the water.A nurse a the Kamurio dispensary confirms how the water has helped the health facility.
According to Amos Nyakeyo , County Drought Cordination officer , National Drought Management Authority, Baringo County;”The water project costed 480,000 ksh this was done by Mamlaka Hill chapel missionaries and NDMA through support from DCF Project funded by the European Union equipped the borehole by putting the solar panels and pumping machines at a cost of 2.4 Million ksh.The decision to come up with such a kind of support to this project was arrived at through a county steering group who were keen on addressing the plight of Kamurio people on water shortage.The water table here is usually at 58 meters and after drilling the borehole it has come to 80 -90 meters .This project has been successful and we have seen change among the people, livestock can now get water and people are safe now.”He confirms.
Lokopimoi Nasuron a middle aged man who cannot speak either in Swahili of English , through a translator he narrates how his life and entire village people has been changed through the water project.”The first time I saw water come from this tap without electricity here, only solar power I was the happiest person. I have 100 cows and used to have sleepless nights during drought because I had no where to take my cows to drink water. To me livestock is my whole life and without water I think iam done. This water project is God sent, we needed it so badly. Now our people and livestock are now comfortable .We will make more money infact because our cows are healthy and they will fetch more money when we sell them.
At Kamurio Primary School the story is the same, pupils who board at the school which is adjacent to the water point can now learn and settle in class without worries of how to look for water. Vincent Bett a volunteer teacher at the schools says at times it was very dangerous for the pupils to go look for water.”This region is known for poisonous snakes
Mr.Nyakeyo also notes that during drought some dispensaries and schools close because of water shortage and this usually has effects to the people.”You can imagine a situation where a health facility closes down because of lack of water and how this can get serious .This challenge now is fully addressed and people are now assured of health services to operate normal even during drought season.”
The Kenya governments vision 2030 targets to see many Kenyans who live in marginalized areas access green energy to help actualize the development agenda of the nation.The Energy sector still faces some challenges and it is evident that green energy can transform lives of villages like Kamurio who have lived in dare need of basic needs like water for decades.
