Access to water enhancing farming in Kenya's ASAL

[Antony Nyandiek, Standard]

For decades, residents of Isiolo’s Ngaremara ward had to endure the struggles and sufferings that come with inaccessibility to water. The area borders Samburu and Meru counties, and the lack of water often resulted in conflicts, loss of livestock, and food insecurity, which led to increased cases of malnutrition, especially among children under five years of age.

Like other parts of the county, Ngaremara has been severely impacted by climate change and its effects, further threatening the lives of both humans and livestock. However, the communities are gradually building resilience and improving their livelihoods, especially socio-economically and in matters concerning health, thanks to improved access to water.

A visit to Aroo village tells the story of an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) area where pastoralism is the main socio-economic activity. Here, women are busy in their farms tending to their crops. The village has been connected to water, thanks to a borehole sunk by USAID in partnership with the Isiolo county government, Caritas Isiolo, and Catholic Relief Services.

Commissioned one year ago, the water supply system and infrastructure launched last year comprises two water kiosks, a 50-cubic meter storage tank, and three livestock troughs. “Women bore the hardest brunt of inaccessibility to water as we would trek for over six kilometers in search of it, yet we still had to attend to other household chores like cooking and washing,” says Ms. Arot Lokadon, 57. 

[Antony Nyandiek, Standard]

Lack of water, she adds, exposed communities to hygiene-related diseases, compromising their health. This is especially because the lack of ample water would compromise key issues such as proper bathing and cleaning of kitchenware. Additionally, women risked their lives as they faced potential attacks by wild animals, bandits, and sexual predators while searching for water.

Livestock would be driven far away in search of pasture, leaving families without access to milk, which compromised food and nutrition security at the household level. “Since this water was brought close, we have witnessed improved health among our livestock. We also enjoy more time with our families, unlike before when we had to abandon our wives and children to search for water,” says Peter Abilai, a beneficiary.

Agro-pastoralism is not only empowering communities economically but also enhancing healthier and diversified diets, leading to reduced cases of malnutrition. At Attan village, over 20 kilometers from Aroo, Angelina Abei has a thriving farm dotted with tomatoes, vegetables, and green grams. “I used to rely on charcoal burning but was not proud of it because I knew I was destroying the environment,” she says, adding, “Farming has brought new breath into my life as I not only enjoy it but I no longer have to deal with the guilt of destroying the environment while searching for daily bread.”

With the income from agriculture, Angelina notes, women are now able to actively participate in contributing towards their families’ needs such as education, food, and clothing, as opposed to solely depending on their spouses. The water system, which supports community and livestock water supply, and a 2.5-acre irrigation scheme, was implemented by USAID Nawiri, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) CETCIL project, COPAD, Plant Village, and Northern Rangelands Trust. Additionally, the establishment of a Community Centre of Innovation in the area is underway.

Some young men, commonly known as morans, are gradually abandoning cat.