Kamuwongo Township and Mwingi Region

Kamuwongo Town is approximately 40 Kilometers West of Mwingi Town and 240 Kilometers from Nairobi. Water in Kamuwongo is very scarce and the residents of this fast growing town like many other residents in the larger semi arid Mwingi region rely on seasonal water sources for both domestic and livestock and other needs. These seasonal sources include shallow wells dug along dry river beds, one private borehole etc. However, these water sources are far and wide apart and local residents spend as much as 6 hours in a day looking for water. Due to the long distances covered, the local residents mostly use donkeys to ferry the water to their homesteads.  Kamuwongo town has a population of approximately 6,500.

Joseph Mulinge and Williams Muchiri both from African Enterprise Kenya conducted a participatory water need assessment survey which included meetings and discussions with local residents,  church leaders and the area chief (Government Representative). All agreed to the urgent need for a water intervention, especially a serviced borehole to serve the local community. The stakeholders noted that many children suffer from illnesses that are mostly caused by drinking contaminated water sourced from the shallow wells.

We visited the local council operated water kiosk but it was closed and there was a very long queue of desperate residents waiting to buy water while others gave up waiting and went to scoop sand from the dry river bed with the hope of finding some water, however dirty.

Our Regional Partner African Enterprise – Kenya conducted a mission in the nearby Mwingi Town and the mission initiatives extended up to Kamuwongo town. African Enterprise has remained in touch with this region through various initiatives including a food security intervention where local residents were trained on climate change mitigation strategies and supplied with growing draught resistant crop varieties, medical camps, and basic theological training for local evangelists, pastors and church leaders. We also assessed  capacity of local churches to maintain a borehole and use resources raised from water sale for evangelistic outreach. The Baptist Church is strategically placed for this responsibility and the pastor is well known to African Enterprise – Kenya, having participated in our missions and trainings.