- Hadija Bulgo, 42, of Mangai and a mother of six says she spends at least two days and nights on a single water fetching trip before she is able to finally arrive home and tend to her family.
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES
An acute water shortage has hit terror-prone Boni forest villages in Lamu County as drought ravages the region.
The worst affected villages include Kiangwe, Mararani, Mangai, Milimani, and Madina, all located inside the Boni forest.
Hundreds of affected families have to wake up in the wee hours of the night and trek for over 20 kilometres to fetch water in the only remaining freshwater well located at Kiangwe village, further close to the Lamu-Somalia border.
The locals however have to contend with the daily dangers of encountering dangerous animals even as they search for water since the well is however located deep inside the dense Boni forest.
So dire is the situation that families are forced to queue for days at the well before they are able to take their turn in fetching the water before embarking on yet another tedious journey back home.
Hadija Bulgo, 42, of Mangai and a mother of six says she spends at least two days and nights on a single water fetching trip before she is able to finally arrive home and tend to her family.
“That is only if I wake up at 3.30 am. If for some reason am late and leave for the well at 4 am, then I might be away for three days. Since my kids are still young. I strive to rise up early to enable me to make it back home early,” said Bulgo.
All other freshwater sources serving these villages have since dried up due to biting drought.
“You go through all that trouble just to get a single gallon of water because I can’t carry more than one. My husband is sickly and so he can’t really help. My kids are small and the distance is too tough for them. The few who have donkeys are lucky as they get to fetch more,” she said.
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES
Zureiya Abdi,36, a mother of three from Mararani village says they have to walk in groups while going through the forest to avoid being attacked by wild animals.
“Sometimes we have a few men with us to help protect us when wild animals attack and it happens a lot. Mostly it's lions, leopards, buffaloes, and sometimes elephants. But we need the water so the risk is worth it,” said Zureiya.
Yusuf Nuri, a former administrator in the Boni villages the scarce resource is being scrambled for by both people and wild animals, hence the growing cases of human-wildlife conflicts in the areas.
“Even with the remaining well, the water is still impure yet we still have to share that one with all wild animals here,” he said.
Villagers who are unable to make it for the long trek to the well have to make do with salty water from the Indian Ocean.
The situation has left villagers nursing waterborne illnesses related to using dirty water while hundreds have discoloured teeth from using highly saline water from the ocean.
They are appealing for water and relief food aid.
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES