Voice for Wetlands and Water

29

WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL

Never Take Water for Granted

As a young girl, I would walk two kilometres to the seasonal Loisukuut River in search of water for domestic use. Today, women and girls spend three to four hours per trip as the water volume has decreased and livestock, which always have top priority in our community, also drink from the same water point. For womenfolk in my community and even the larger Laikipia North, 20-litres of water is pure gold. I first saw water running from a tap at age 12 when I joined a boarding school and marvelled at the water gushing from a shower. Up to date, we have no tap water. Those who have water take it for granted. In my home area, 10 people can use one cup of water at times. We have partnered with a foundation to mitigate the effects of climate change at the local level because weather disparities severely impact persons with disabilities. This initiative includes campaigning against uncontrolled sand harvesting and pollution of Loisukuut River to stop erosion of the river bank and destruction of the acacia trees which guard the catchment that sustains our people.

Jacinta Silakan of Sangida Foundation is also a member of Kudoti Community

When the COVID pandemic broke out, we were hit with a new realisation. The markets were shut down. We could not get any vegetables. It was during this period that we, together with another organisation, initiated an empowerment programme to explore alternative livelihoods such as chicken rearing and vertical gardening. Some 100 families have taken up this initiative to supplement their nutrition and income.

For womenfolk, a 20-litre container of water is pure gold

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