Sordo Namunyak get WATER!

Today, the Sordo Namunyak community saw with their own eyes that water was in the ground below their feet. When water was struck, tens of people, mostly children, looked on in disbelief but with big smiles. Another happy day for all!!!

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Well Drilling Begins

Well Drilling began in Sordo Namunyak on Friday, August 26th. The community was very excited. We spent a lot of time speaking to people and hearing their stories. One Mzee asked me if it was REALLY true that they were going to get water. I told him that we would not have spent all the money we did to get the drilling there if we didn't think there was water.

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Red Tape in Well Drilling

When Lucas went to the Water Resource Management Authority to pick up permits for our 10 wells, he first learned that the office was no longer in Nanyuki but had moved to Isiolo. When he finally arrived in Isiolo he was met with many challenges. For our previous four well drills, we have always produced the Hydrogeological Reports, an application and wrote a check and permits were given on the spot. Not this time! Not until this morning, 21 days after Lucas' initial visit to the WRMA, did we actually receive permission to begin drilling (still waiting for permits!).

Lucas had to go back to EVERY community and get titles for the land we are drilling on. The challenging aspect of this is that no one "owns" the land in Samburu as it is the land of the community. He wrote agreements with the area chiefs, area counselors and key elders which stated that they were donating the land to the designated women’s group. When he went back to the WRMA with the Title Deeds, they then told him that he had to get a Constitution from EVERY women's group!!! Fortunately, Naibosho Women's Group in Wamba, an umbrella organization has representatives from all of the area's women’s groups. Instead of going back to ALL the communities again, he was able to use their Constitution. And lastly, a new association called the Water Resource User Authority has been formed. Lucas had to get three members of their committee to sign a letter saying that The Samburu Project has done a good job. Unfortunately, the three people who needed to sign live in three different places; Laikepia, Maralal and Archer’s Post which caused major logistical challenges.

After Lucas spent week gathering the necessary materials and return to the WRMA office in Isiolo, it turns out that the person who is in charge was away for some time. Then, when he returned yesterday, after Lucas spent three days waiting for him, the computers in the office were down.

All part of the adventures in well drilling...onward and upward!

Site Selection DAY 1

After surveying 5 potential locations, Kariuki & Lucas found a viable site for the Sordo Namunyak well.

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