Water: An Ongoing Challenge in Kisumu

November 23, 2024

How the resilient women in Kisumu deal with complex water challenges

Pictures from the author’s portfolio

While being involved with SANGO-Kenya in the ongoing project of training farmers to cope with climate change, I have witnessed the complex water challenges farmers face in Kisumu. Our organization works alongside these resilient farmers, providing support and training to help them manage the impacts of climate change.

This is chapter #9. You can read the first chapters here: Chapter #1, Chapter #2, Chapter #3, Chapter #4, Chapter #5, Chapter #6, Chapter #7, Chapter #8

The Water Situation in Kisumu

In rural Kisumu, access to water dictates the rhythm of daily life. Every household activity, from cooking and cleaning to farming, begins with the arduous task of securing water. Simply turning on a tap is a luxury unknown to most families here.

Acquiring water takes on many forms and involves everyone.
Without running water, every household activity requires fetching water.

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change has exacerbated the water situation, leading to a cruel paradox of either too much or too little water. Droughts have become more frequent and severe, leaving farmers struggling to keep their crops alive. Conversely, when rains do come, they often result in devastating floods. This unpredictable cycle of drought and flood has left farmers in a constant state of uncertainty.

SANGO-Kenya’s Approach

At SANGO-Kenya, we partner with local farmers to help find sustainable solutions to these water challenges. This involves training farmers to select and grow crops that are more resistant to climate change and teaching techniques for more efficient crop production and water use.

Multistory gardens offer a water-efficient way of growing crops that is relatively immune to flooding.
Drying vegetables for future use is an effective method to maximize yields during good times.
The dried vegetables are packaged and stored for use during leaner times.

Gutter Systems for Rainwater Harvesting

One of our key initiatives has been the introduction of gutter systems for rainwater harvesting.

The gutters can reduce the number of trips with the yellow jerrycans.

We’ve trained farmers to create, install, and maintain these gutters on their homes and farm buildings. During the sporadic heavy rains, these systems help capture and store precious water for use during dry periods.

Just some PVC tubing attached to the edge of the roof and you have a simple gutter.

The gutter is a simple, short length of PVC tubing that can be easily attached to the roof edge. It directs water to a reservoir below.

The ubiquitous yellow jerrycan

Sources of water are varied: a water hole, a well, a pump, and very rarely, a tap.

Securing enough water is essential for nearly any activity, from cooking and cleaning to farming and tending to livestock.

Watering the multistory garden
Doing the dishes using water fetched from the well.

This usually involves going to the water source and carrying back as much water as possible, and multiple trips are often necessary.

Carrying the water home. Sometimes it is miles away.
Having a well on your property is a rare blessing.

For some, this might be a trip to their property’s well, but more commonly, it means walking to the nearest water source and filling up a yellow jerrycan.

Often the water source is at a neighboring property.

As a result, almost anywhere you go, you’ll see women carrying yellow jerrycans with water on their heads. It’s almost always women, sometimes accompanied by children, who form this constant parade.

The well is often locked. It is a guarded resource. Many times neighbors purchase it.
Having a water source with a pump on your property is very fortunate.

Most households keep a few full jerrycans in their kitchen, but these need to be replenished daily. Water sources can include water holes, wells, water pumps, or reservoirs that store rainwater.

A stockpile. Replenished often.

Entrepreneurial Solutions

Some enterprising farmers have taken matters into their own hands, turning water scarcity into a business opportunity.

An enterprising farmer dug a well, installed solar pumps, and built a structure to hold the water reservoir tanks, making this a business.
This entrepreneur was fortunate enough to have the funds for this project and a son who is an engineer.

They’ve constructed wells and installed pumps, selling water to their neighbors. While this has provided a much-needed water source for some, it also highlights the desperation of the situation, where water has become a commodity rather than a freely available resource.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite these efforts, many farmers still struggle daily to access adequate water for their crops and households. The situation in Kisumu is particularly critical, with only about 56% of the population having access to a clean water supply.

The rare case of a farmer having available running water on her property
Being such a valuable commodity… water is always locked up.

Consequently, some rural residents are compelled to travel up to 8 miles to reach water sources, only to find that the water is highly polluted and unsafe for consumption.

Hope for the Future

Despite the tough times, the farmers of Kisumu are showing incredible strength and willpower. We hope to assist them by promoting sustainable crops, efficient farming methods, advanced irrigation systems, and water harvesting. As SANGO-Kenya’s program grows, we aim to continue making a difference in these people’s lives.

…and you can see more of my photos here: https://www.rozinphotos.com/