Report: D4W4: Lbaa Onyokie 2 Well

Funded by Bob Falkenberg, The Samburu Project drilled and installed a shallow well equipped with a handpump in this community.

The water was 6 km downstream or 4 km to another well. The newly installed well is within the community and requires only 30 minutes to get water. In the past they had to fetch water twice a day. Water from digging in the riverbed only lasts one month per year and it is dirty whereas well water is clean. Previously it took so long to get the livestock to water that they didn't have time to graze; now the animals are able to feed. The well provides the community with security. They know that during a drought the well won't get dry and even when it floods the water is dirty and they know that they can get clean water from the well. One woman said she used to wake up and walk the whole day for water and return late at night and it hurt her physically to carry the water. In her extra time she looks after her children, tend to her livestock, spend time with her family, and engage in micro-enterprise, creating and selling handicrafts and beads. Selling beads gives her spending power within her familiy, something she didn't have before the well.

The community agrees by contract to pay for maintenance costs. Each well committee collects approximately $250 per year for this purpose. In order to ensure well functionality and monitor its use, The Samburu Project spends approximately $160 per year per well. This comes from our general fund, which is maintained by individual donations.