Water sources dwindle in Kisii as leaders embrace borehole drilling

Young boys drink water from a newly drilled borehole at Sombogo in Kitutu Chache North,Kisii County. The borehole was drilled by Kisii Woman Representative Donya Dorice Aburi through the support of National Government Affirmative Action Fund(NGAAF). [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

One person in Kisii County needs 1,000 cubic meters of water annually, a report by the Kisii County Government Department of Water and Environment shows. However, due to the failure to conserve water sources, only 500 cubic meters are available per person annually.

This has pushed the demand for borehole water in the region, which calls for the protection of springs and streams that have been the only source of water reticulation for years. Many rivers, springs, swamps, marshlands, and seasonal water points in the region are on the verge of drying up due to increased human activities.

Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya is leading the pack in borehole drilling through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).

In the last few months, Donya has drilled seven boreholes targeting far-flung areas in the county.

She said: “There is a perception that Kisii has enough water. The truth is that rivers have dried up, and our mothers are forced to walk long distances to access clean water. Unfortunately, this is happening in the 21st century when we should have homes connected to water.”

The boreholes are drilled in shopping centres and some schools, targeting households within a five-kilometre radius.

“We will do 10 boreholes in phase l of the project and proceed to the second phase after carrying out the need assessment," she added

Records with the Gusii Water Company indicate that less than 10 per cent of households have piped water, nearly 60 percent depend on river water, and 20 percent on springs daily.