Women's business: water-harvesting in Kenya

As Kenya faces one of its worst droughts since independence with at least 3.5 million people in urgent need of food aid, there is an increased outcry for a lasting solution to the recurrent problem. In addition to hunger, over four million people have experienced water shortages in the 25 drought-affected districts. The Maasai, one of the few remaining herding communities in the country, have not been spared. In March this year, 70 per cent (over 500,000 people), in the worst affected district, Kajiado in Southern Kenya, were dependent upon food rations. However, the women in Kajiado are now leading the way in providing a solution. In a new initiative, the women are working to help change the community way of life from pastoralist to settled farmers.

In the Olepolos community, on the leeward slopes of the Ngong hills where rainfall is low and erratic, the women have constructed dams and concrete tanks as part of a rainwater harvesting project. The initiative was spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Regional Land Management Unit (RELMA) of the World Agroforestry Centre. Managed by a local NGO, Land Use Consultant Group, the aim of the project, which started in November 2005, was to build 100 water tanks in two months with half the costs provided by group savings. In practice about 75 per cent of the tank cost has been covered by the project, and over 80 tanks have now been built.

	credit: David Chome

John Mbugua, the director of Land Use Consultant Group, stresses the need for the community to generate home-grown solutions to their problems. "We provide a technician who instructs the women on how to construct the tanks and the rest is left to them," he says. "We apply the 4S principle - small, simple, and sustainable solutions. Come the rains, the community will be rejoicing."

Minimum requirements

Before a tank can be built, the household needs to have dug a minimum of one hundred holes ready for tree planting, prepared a vegetable garden in the homestead and made a dam for rain water harvesting. The beneficiaries also have to be part of a women's group and are encouraged to undertake a savings scheme to allow further investments. So far, women from half of the 600 families have joined groups while more are joining.

Maimbo Malesu, Regional Coordinator for Global Water Partnership (GWP), an organisation working with RELMA, says anyone visiting the area during this time of drought will see that this project is essential to the community. "We need to transform the Maasai people by empowering the community to settle on their land and be productive by engaging in horticulture, fodder and tree planting," he says.

credit: David Chome

But water scarcity is one of the most pressing problems in this part of the Maasailand. Cattle are often taken far to drink. Women walk several hours to fetch water for the family, the water quality from rivers and springs is poor and there is never adequate water at home. Alex Oduor, information officer for GWP, says the project is viewed by the community as a godsend because for the first time they are able to have clean water, practise farming, restore their land by planting trees and keep cattle under manageable conditions.

The feel good factor

The Maasai women also acknowledge the benefits of the initiative. Louise Mwoiko, chairlady of Mataanobo women's group, says they are hoping for the rains to see the tanks in use. "I am anticipating a taste of clean water at our doorstep, unlike the usual walking over eight kilometres in search of water. I will have my own garden for cultivation and hope the trees will be of long term benefit," she says.

Jerusha Lasoi, another member of the Olepolos community project believes it will improve their lives so they no longer have to rely on relief food aid. "Depending on food aid is outrageous because you have food today and the next day you have nothing. I now have clean water, a milk cow and vegetables, which I can sell. I know this will positively change my life." Agnes Kiner, the overall chairlady of the community women's groups, goes further, advocating for the Maasai community to abandon the system of keeping unmanageable herds of livestock and proposing instead to keep one or two dairy cows and goats.

But the accomplishment of the women is perhaps best summarised by Ann Kiria, chairlady for a young women's group. "The construction of the tanks has really challenged us. But we no longer fold our hands and look up to men to make things work. A woman climbing on top and making final touches to the tank is an inspiration to us all."

Written by Ebby Nanzala