Solar-powered borehole to end human-wildlife conflicts in Amboseli

Before 2021, the Ilmarba community in Kajiado county had to trek long distances to get water for domestic use and their livestock.

Then, the community relied on diesel generator to pump water from a borehole that was drilled in the 1980s.

The pump was not only unsustainable but also susceptible to frequent breakdowns.

Women and girls to trek at least 15km, often crossing wildlife habitats, to fetch water for domestic use.

Men would sneak into the Amboseli National Park for their livestock to quench thirst, especially during dry seasons. 

They were accessing the park in violation of park rules, often leading to conflicts with authorities and risking attacks by wild animals such as hyenas and lions.

Today, the community is happy after partners in 2021 installed a solar-powered water pump.

The German Federal Government and the Otto Fund provided funds for the project while WWF-Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service and Ogulului Group Ranch are implementing it.

Joshua Mutengere, a beneficiary of the project, said the solar-powered borehole has brought water near their homesteads.

“Elephants too get water as they have their own access points,” he said.

Ilmarba community borehole chairman Nelson Tinayo said running the generator was too costly as they could only access diesel in Loitokitok, about 50km away.

He said it was hard for some community members to get money to buy diesel.

Tinayo said the generator would sometimes break down and take a long time before it was fixed.

“The livestock were going to Amboseli National Park to access water. Some would die on the way,” he said.

Tinayo said there is a huge difference in the cost of running a diesel-powered generator compared to a solar-powered borehole.

“We used to charge Sh100 for a cow and Sh20 for a goat to access water every month. The cost of ferrying diesel from here to Loitokitok is expensive. Hiring a car to ferry diesel cost Sh10,000,” he said.

Tinayo said after the solar was installed, charges reduced to Sh30 for a cow and Sh5 for a goat to access water.

Women buy water for as little as Sh30, compared to the previous cost of Sh100.

Tinayo said the health of livestock, people and wildlife has improved.

He said approximately 500 households, and 5,000 cattle and 7,000 goats are benefitting from the borehole.

beneficiary Jackson Leposo said he used to pay Sh4,500 for his 45 cows. Today, he pays Sh900.

World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya programmes coordinator Amboseli-Chyulu sub-landscape Dr John Kioko said they are undertaking water for conservation projects in Ilmarba.

“It is a project which hopes to enhance co-existence between humans and wildlife,” Kioko said.

Kioko said the only water found in the area is in wetlands inside the park.

He said they have installed 38 solar panels to help pump water.

Kioko said the community-led project cost Sh3.5 million.

“WWF-K and KWS are partnering with community on this project. The community runs the project through a committee where they collect funds from the members to maintain the project,” Kioko said.

Once complete, it is estimated the project will cost Sh5 million.

Kioko said the Amboseli ecosystem is about 5,000km² and about 90 per cent of it is largely semi-arid.

Much of water come from the park’s wetlands, which are formed through springs whose origin is North Kilimanjaro.

“That means that much of wildlife dispersal area like Ogulului Group Ranch has no service water. The little service water is within the park and some of the areas already under cultivation,” he said.

A nearby school known as Olmoti Day and Boarding Comprehensive School is a beneficiary of the solar-powered borehole.

Senior teacher Dominic Kyalo said they used to get water seven kilometres away due to the breakdown of the borehole.

He said the school has two water points now.

It has initiated conservation efforts by putting up a tree nursery.

Kyalo said the school initially had a population of about 250 students and has since increased to 600 students.