Small community water supplies in the Isiolo County, Kenya

Lack of access to drinking water mostly affects the sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, since 2000, access to safe drinking water has increased by 12 per cent, while access to basic sanitation has fallen by five per cent. 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, several international cooperation projects have been carried out in collaboration with the pastoral communities of the rural areas of the Isiolo County. Isiolo County, located in Northern Kenya, has been plagued for years by severe droughts and floods that put a strain on water access and the already precarious water infrastructure. In this study, we present 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. In addition, the rehabilitation of Boji village water supply system will be described, as an example of good practise for implementing small community water supplies. In particular, the construction of water kiosks, livestock troughs, solar pumping system from boreholes with an associated diesel generator backup system will be presented, as well as, the establishment of a water service pricing system, and the training of the water management committee.