Small community water supplies in the Isiolo County, Kenya

Issues of access to drinking water for human use affect the whole world. The most difficult challenges to face are in the sub-Saharan Africa countries, with consequences that in recent years have been amplified by climate change and population growth. The Italian NGO LVIA – Lay Volunteers International Association – has been working in Kenya for more than 50 years to improve living conditions of the beneficiary populations, also with interventions in the water sector that contribute to the achievement of the No.6 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation. Since 2012, projects have, as main beneficiaries, the pastoral communities in the rural areas of Isiolo County. Isiolo County, like Northern Kenya in general, has been plagued for years by severe droughts and floods that put a strain on water sources and the already precarious water infrastructure, generating stress among the populations. The research that is presented is the result of an internship carried out in Isiolo County between March and May 2020, with the aim of collaborating in the international cooperation projects development implemented by LVIA in the water sector. The collaborative activities results will be presented, concerning the emergency project for the rehabilitation of water supply systems in the villages of Duse, Bulesa/Godha, Sericho, Gafarsa, Oldonyiro, Kipsing, Kinna affected by floods at the end of 2019 which caused severe damage in various areas of the county. In addition, rehabilitation of Boji village water supply system will be analysed in detail. The project involved the construction of water kiosks as common points for the inhabitants water collection, the construction of troughs for livestock which is the main source of income for households, the installation of solar pumping system associated with diesel generator backup system which draws water from borehole, the establishment of a water service pricing system, and the technical and management training of a water committee. All these activities have enabled the inhabitants of the Boji village to resolve the main issues concerning access to safe water and its model can be proposed as one of the best solutions for sustainable water supply in rural areas of Kenya.