Mandera residents elated as NGO launches water project

While the rest of Mandera county experiences water scarcity due to drought, residents of 3 sleepy villages are all smiles.

This is after a multi-million shilling water project was launched in the area courtesy of Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development, a Mandera-based NGO.

The three locations are Mandera Integrated Islamic Centre, Darika village and Fiqo village in the Mandera East subcounty.

According to Adan Abdi Osman, the project manager, they managed to carry out the project with funding from the German Federal foreign office.

Speaking to the press on Monday after handing over the project to the county water department in the presence of the community members, Osman said the project will benefit more than 900 households.

The project consists of a 60,000 litre water tank, two water kiosks fitted with eight taps for Darika village and rehabilitation of a shallow well and solar-powered shallow well in Fiqo Village.

“Water is a basic need for every human being, unfortunately in many parts of Northeastern accessing clean and safe water is a struggle. People walk long distances in search of the commodity," he said.

"Even when they get water after trekking long distances it is always not clean and safe for use. This is why we decided to partner with well-wishers to give residents  quality water."

Deqa Hassan,  a resident of Darika village thanked the NGOs for the project, saying they have suffered for a long time looking for water.

“As women, we are the ones who suffer the most when looking for water. We trek for long distances for water with our children but now the suffering is over and we are very grateful. God bless you,” Deqa said.

Hassan Adan,  a resident of Fiqo village said the water crisis had affected many aspects of their lives including learners who had been forced to drop out or skip school as they searched for water.

“The issue of water is a big crisis not only in our locations but across the county. It is one that needs to be addressed by all stakeholders because both human beings and livestock are suffering," he said.

"However, now we have kissed that problem goodbye. We thank all those who participated in making this dream a reality."

Anisa Haji said previously, they relied on water supply from a shallow well 10kms away and was being pumped by a diesel generator which experienced frequent breakages and high maintenance and operation costs.

County water deputy director Abdi Abdille thanked the NGOs for bettering the lives of residents and promised to safeguard the project for sustainability.

“We want to immensely thank all actors of this project for complimenting the county government’s efforts of ensuring that every household has access to clean water,” he said.

(Edited by Tabnacha O)