Residents drink dirty water to survive drought

By Isaiah Lucheli and Vincent Bartoo

Drought in Turkana District has forced locals to depend on water from water pans meant for livestock.

The famine has persisted despite short rains in parts of the North Rift.

"We wake up very early and trek for more than six kilometres to the nearest dry river bed in search of water. It takes us up to three hours to fill a five-litre container," said Ms Esther Nechan, a mother of three.

Bore holes and shallow wells that used to supply clean water for the residents have dried up, exposing them to the risk of contracting water-borne diseases.

Since late last year the area has not received rainfall. This has made water in the pans dirty and contaminated with animal waste. But residents have to drink it or they die of thirst.

Some have resorted to digging holes in the dry riverbeds of seasonal rivers in search of the precious commodity.

Ms Nechan says very few people have the energy to walk for long distances in search of clean water and have to rely on the water pans.

"There is no food. People are on the verge of death. Lack of water has worsened the situation for the starving families," said Nechan.

She says her children have become too weak to walk and it has become impossible to cover the inevitable long distances in search for water.

"My children do not go to school, they herd the goats. In our society every person is important when it comes to division of labour. Herding livestock and search of food are the main responsibilities," says Nechan.

Stagnant water

She says the nearest point from Kalotum, where they can get clean drinking water is Nakware, which is more than 10km away.

She knows the water in the pans is not fit for human use but says the drying up of water sources had forced them to share the water with their livestock.

"The water is stagnant, contaminated with animal waste and dust but we would rather risk contracting disease than die of thirst," she says.

Even the few water pans available are not easy to come by. Herders walk for long distances to reach the nearest water pan.

And for the residents, the water pans are Godsend.