Fight for water in the shadow of a tourist paradise

Kenya, located in the heart of East Africa, is known as a tourist paradise with sandy beaches and lush savannas. However, the daily life of Kenyans is painted in less idyllic colors, especially when it comes to access to clean water. In our interview with Marta Wawrzyniak, an expert at Polish Humanitarian Action, we look at how Kenya is facing the challenges caused by climate change and what innovative solutions can bring relief to the ongoing water crisis.

Agnieszka Hobot: What are the key challenges in access to clean water in different regions of Kenya, and how does this affect the daily lives of residents?

Marta Wawrzyniak: As we know, Kenya is a popular tourist destination, but we rarely realize that for the people of the country, access to clean, potable water is very limited, unlike the conditions that tourists have.

Kenya is a relatively safe country, not experiencing major climatic disasters or armed conflicts. Nevertheless, it has been facing visible climate change for years. Kenya has dry and rainy seasons, occurring twice a year. However, in the last 5 to 8 years, changes in the arrival of these seasons have been increasingly noticeable, with the dry season lengthening, resulting in less and more regular rainfall. This, in turn, affects access to drinking water and the quality of life of people who are largely engaged in agriculture.

Regions such as the north of Kenya and the Turkana area are particularly affected by climate change. For the past five years, residents of these areas have been experiencing massive droughts that have led to the death of millions of livestock due to lack of water. Their high mortality rate, in turn, means a lack of livelihood for people who lead pastoralist lives.

Climate change is also affecting other regions of Kenya, such as Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties, where we operate as Polish Humanitarian Action. These are dry, desert areas where access to water is very limited. Residents of these areas get their water from seasonal rivers, which dry up quickly.

It is often said that water is scarce in Africa, but this is a myth. The problem is the non-existence of water infrastructure or its poor condition – it often breaks down due to lack of maintenance. This situation results in 60 percent of of rainwater is lost, unaccounted for due to lack of adequate facilities.

A.H.: In the context of climate change, do you see any changes in recent years in the Kenyan government’s approach to water shortages?

M.W.: The Kenyan government is focused on building large infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams, which unfortunately often fail to meet expectations and the needs of the local community. Thus, it can be said that these types of projects do not contribute to a significant improvement in the quality of life of the population in terms of access to water. There are still very many areas that do not receive sufficient support in this regard.

A.H.: What does it look like to work with organizations like yours? Is it easy, or are there any specific conditions that hinder or complicate your operations?

M.W.: Our work is mainly grassroots work, that is, directly with local communities to improve their access to water and overall quality of life. We do not cooperate at a higher level of government, we focus more on interacting with local organizations and communities, as well as local authorities. This is very effective and positive. We also consult with them on our ideas to make sure that the projects being implemented respond to the real needs of the community and are not externally imposed.

A.H.: I understand that it was your research on local needs that inspired you to launch a project related to phytoremediation plants, which you are doing together with a Kenyan startup.

M.W.: Yes, exactly. The topic is relatively new; the idea was born last year. We are currently implementing two pilot projects using ponds with phytoremediation plants. The initiative is still in the implementation phase, so we are still gathering information to assess whether and how effectively the method works. We are piloting in two boarding schools where water consumption is particularly high. In one learns approx. 1,300 students, and in the second approx. 500-600 and both have plans to increase these numbers in the coming years. Our activities focus on reusing wastewater – both black water from toilets and gray water from showers or laundry rooms.

Wastewater, or black water, is treated separately and used only for flushing in toilets. After treatment, they are recirculated back into the sanitation system, thus closing the loop. Gray water from showers and laundry facilities is also treated, but used for other purposes, such as cleaning or irrigating crops that serve the school cafeteria. This allows students to have a nutritious meal during the break.

The project is being scientifically and technically supervised by a Kenyan entity that has been developing mini water treatment plants for years. They are the ones with the necessary know-how. We mainly focus on implementing the project and monitoring its effectiveness and usefulness. The first results are expected in March next year.

A.H.: Does the implementation of your activities require education of the local community, including children and teachers? What does this process look like from the inside?

M.W.: The process begins with an in-depth study of the needs of the local community, in this case the school. We hold focus group meetings and conduct interviews to assess the feasibility of the project and adapt it to local conditions. After positive verification, we proceed to the technical implementation stage, which includes site preparation and necessary installations.

Once the construction work is completed, we focus on the so-called soft aspect of the project. It is important to appoint responsible people in each school to handle the day-to-day supervision of its proper functioning. Education includes not only maintenance, but also knowledge of sustainable water management and hygiene.

We train teachers and students how to use the new solutions and what advantages they have. It’s important for them to understand how the devices work and how they improve their daily lives. Also, we regularly repeat hygiene and climate change training to raise environmental awareness and hygiene levels in schools or communities.

A.H.: What barriers or challenges did you encounter during the project?

M.W.: The biggest challenge is to ensure the long-term operation of the project. They are often completed after a year, which is insufficient to evaluate their effectiveness. Our commitment includes long-term monitoring and cooperation to ensure that the project is not only initiated but also continued by the community. Education is key to ensure that knowledge of project management is transferred and maintained among local leaders and participants.

A.H.: Where do you think their short-livedness comes from?

M.W.: The key here is the concept of ownership, that is, responsibility and involvement of the local community right from the design stage. Too often, external initiatives are imposed on communities that are not involved from the beginning and do not feel co-ownership of the project. They are told: Here is your project, use it, because it will benefit you. This approach is not conducive to the sustainability of initiatives.

So in our activities, we try to make sure that local communities are involved from the first step. It’s not our project, it’s theirs – from design to implementation to management. For example, we do not use external coordinators when building sand dams in Kenya. Instead, we involve the local community in the entire construction process so that they feel that the project is theirs. We provide funding and know-how, but from start to finish it is a community initiative.

A.H.: Finally, in the face of global climate change and the associated northward migration, what is the outlook for Kenyans in terms of access to water?

M.W.: We are currently seeing a lot of grassroots initiatives to improve access to water. While these activities are numerous and important, a systems approach is key. Local communities can do a lot, but without support and coordination at the central level, it is difficult to expect lasting change. These activities must be broad and systematic, not limited to small-scale projects. Only then can we talk about a real improvement in the situation that will extend to all residents of the country.

pic. main: Leon Pauleikhoff/Unsplash