Addressing the Alarming Link Between Water Shortages and Increased Vulnerability of Girls to Exploitation

In Kilifi County, many women and girls face serious risks while searching for water. They often walk long distances in search of this essential resource, making them vulnerable to attacks.

In Kaya, a local assistant chief named Shadrack Kazungu has reported several troubling incidents. Recently, he dealt with three cases of girls being defiled. However, there is a silver lining. The rehabilitation of five boreholes has significantly improved the situation.

“Before, girls spent over two hours looking for water, which put them at risk. Now it’s much better, though residents of Karimani and Mabonje C still struggle,” Chief Kazungu explained. In these areas, people have to hire motorbikes to transport water, costing around Sh200 per trip.

The Maji Bora Programme has played a crucial role in tackling this crisis, investing about Sh100 million to drill and fix boreholes throughout the region.

Residents, like Loice Katana, praise the improvements. “We used to walk long distances and pay Sh20 for a jerrican of water. Now, the borehole serves us well, saving us both time and money,” she shared.

Another village elder, Malkia Abdalla, noted the impact on families. “Before we had the borehole, a family would struggle to use just one 20-litre jerrican a day,” she said, pointing out the effect on education. Many girls had to leave school early to fetch water.

In collaboration with the county government, Griot Consulting has worked since 2020 to rehabilitate and drill 571 boreholes across various sub-counties, including Magarini and Ganze.

Erick Gichana from Griot Consulting stated that the five-year Maji Bora initiative, with over Sh100 million in funding, will benefit about one million people and is set to expand to Turkana, Kisumu, and Vihiga counties. The project has already repaired over 300 boreholes in Turkana and 150 in Kisumu and Vihiga.

Alongside these efforts, Gichana highlighted their commitment to quality. “We treat the water with chlorine to ensure safety. However, some areas face challenges like low water tables and salinity. Technicians are always on hand to fix pump issues,” he noted.

Moreover, in Narok County, they have established a rescue home for girls escaping early marriages and female genital mutilation, along with offering scholarships for various levels of education.

Co-director Hywel George explained, “Our goal is to improve lives in rural communities and address issues created by climate change.” They use hand pumps and solar-powered installations to serve larger populations.

In Kilifi County, the government has increased access to water from 65% to 68% in just two years, showing real progress. This improvement comes from new projects and upgrades to existing water infrastructure, including pipelines and tanks.

Governor Gideon Mung’aro highlighted that despite these advancements, the county still faces a significant water deficit. While they currently receive only 65,000 cubic metres of water daily, the demand is 265,000 cubic metres. There is a pressing need for more investments to close this gap.