School children mark the Day of African Child in Marsabit
town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
For many children around the world, water is something they rarely think about. It flows from a tap in the kitchen, fills school sinks, and runs through homes without question.
But for thousands of children in Marsabit County, water is something else entirely — a daily struggle that shapes whether they attend school, stay healthy, or remain safe from harmful practices.
On Wednesday, community members, development partners, and other stakeholders gathered in Marsabit town during the national launch ahead of the national celebrations to mark the day of the African Child.
The theme
of this year is "Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,"
Addressing
the stakeholders who had gathered for the celebrations, Cavallera Girls
Secondary School student Gumatu Wario Barille spoke with conviction about the
reality facing children in her county.
With a
firm voice, Gumatu said that the celebrations in Marsabit served as a stark
reminder that for many children in the county, access to water remains a
distant dream rather than a guaranteed right.
Cavallera Girls Secondary School Student Gumatu Barille
addresses the public during the Day of African Child in Marsabit town. /STEPHEN
ASTARIKO"For
many children across the world, water comes from taps and sanitation is
guaranteed, But for a child in Marsabit, water is a daily struggle, long treks,
missed lessons, and a barrier to education," she said.
Her words
captured the reality of life in Kenya's largest county, where vast distances,
prolonged droughts, and inadequate infrastructure continue to deny many
children access to one of life's most basic necessities.
Although
Article 43 of Kenya's Constitution guarantees every person the right to clean
and safe water, that promise remains elusive for many families in Marsabit.
In a
region frequently battered by drought, households often travel long distances
in search of water, leaving children vulnerable to missed schooling, poor
health, and insecurity.
National
Council for Children's Services Board Member Joseph Iha Wanje acknowledged the
challenge and called for greater investment to ensure children enjoy the rights
guaranteed to them.
"My
Ministry remains committed to collaborating with county governments to
strengthen water and sanitation systems in homes, schools, and
institutions," he said. "But this is now a call to action for all
partners — invest in children to ensure every child in Kenya accesses safe
water," she said.
According
to Nurriah Golloh, Chief Executive Officer of the Marsabit Women Advocacy and
Development Organization (MWADO), the consequences of water scarcity extend far
beyond thirst.
She noted
that water shortages are increasingly contributing to social challenges that
disproportionately affect girls.
"Acute
water shortages are directly linked to chronic school absenteeism. And where
water is absent, retrogressive practices rush in, FGM, early marriages, defilement, and
gender-based violence. Thirst becomes a weapon against girlhood," she
said.
She noted
that in some communities, families struggling to cope with prolonged water
shortages resort to marrying off daughters as a survival strategy, exchanging
them for dowries that can help sustain households during difficult times.
“As Africa
reflects on the rights and welfare of its children, our message is clearm,
universal access to water and sanitation cannot remain a promise on paper. It
must become a reality in our homes, schools, and communities,” she said.
“Only then
will our children no longer have to walk long distances in search of water, and
only then will the right to water cease to be an aspiration and become what it
was always meant to be, a guarantee,” Nurriah
added.
In such
settings, a functioning water project becomes much more than infrastructure. It
becomes a shield against vulnerability, helping keep girls in school and
protecting them from harmful practices.
Development
partners echoed the need for sustained investment in water, sanitation, and
hygiene services.
Compassion
International Kenya Programs Manager Eugene Juma emphasized that access to safe
water directly influences children's health, education, and dignity.
"Access
to water, hygiene, and sanitation protects children from preventable diseases,
"It improves school attendance and learning outcomes. It restores dignity
and safety for children and their families," he said.
As host
county for this year's national celebrations, Marsabit leaders used the
occasion to challenge both national and county stakeholders to move beyond
annual commemorations and deliver lasting solutions.
Deputy
Governor Solomon Gubo posed a question that resonated throughout the gathering.
"Is
there a permanent, remarkable water and sanitation project we can undertake in
Marsabit for posterity instead of just marking the day?" he asked.
"The
national government must end the biting water and sanitation challenges in this
region. Not with speeches. With pipes," he said
His
remarks reflected growing calls for sustainable investments capable of
transforming lives long after commemorative events have ended.
Marsabit
County Commissioner Stanley Kamande also challenged communities to abandon
harmful cultural practices that continue to endanger children.
"I
hear that FGM is still an alternative coping mechanism among pastoralist
communities here, It is high time communities stopped such practices once and
for all," he said.
His
comments highlighted the complex relationship between poverty, resource
scarcity, and harmful traditions, underscoring the need for both infrastructure
development and social transformation.
For the children of Marsabit, access to water means far more than filling a container. It means attending school consistently, staying healthy, and growing up free from exploitation and violence.
It means having safe sanitation facilities, supportive learning environments, and communities that protect rather than endanger them.
Joseph Iha Wanje, Member of the Board of Directors at the
National Council for Children’s Services flags off a procession during the launch of the Day of African Child in
Marsabit County. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Marsabit County Commissioner Stanley Kamande who called on
the local communities to stop retrogressive cultural practices. /STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
Joseph Iha Wanje, Member of the Board of Directors at the
National Council for Children’s Services addressing the public during the Day
of African Child in Marsabit Town. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
