RERU VILLAGE, KENYA

FUNDED NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Reru Village is located in Kisumu County, Nyanza Province, Kenya. It is a semi-arid area. This means that the rain is not reliable and sometimes the area  experiences a lot of drought.  There is no war or conflicts in this region of Kenya.

The location in question has no access to clean water; the nearest hand pump shown in the pictures is 6 kilometers away. Some people who have money have their own water tanks to collect the rainwater. There is a well, a hand pump, which serves clean water but it belongs to a family. It is a private water source that is not accessed by people who are not related to the family that owns it. It is not for public use. People, therefore, walk/travel six kilometers to fetch water from the public hand pump shown.

A family waiting to pump water at the hand pump six kilometers away

The nearby creeks as seen in the pictures below have very dirty water. People who use water from the creeks are prone to cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. From the pictures, you will also see the terrain of the creek. It has deep erosions that make it difficult for people to access the water. Many people have fallen and sustained injuries going  down the creek and climbing up the creek.

One of the creeks is near a very busy road where traffic always poses danger. Accidents have been witnessed. Early this year two women who were going to fetch water from the creek were hit by a truck and died instantly. A lot of livestock has been hit by vehicles. There is also a nearby grade/primary school with a population of 450. This water project will be a blessing to them. During dry seasons, they are forced to disrupt their lessons to go and fetch water to meet their needs. The rain is not reliable. Even if it rains people do not have tanks to harvest the rain water.

A nearby creek runs under the road

The primary uses for the [new well’s] water will be human consumption, farming, and animals. By farming I mean kitchen gardening, not irrigation, such as having a small garden behind a house to plant tomatoes, kale, and onions for subsistence. This is very common in this area. By animals I mean [that] people who have five to ten cows will fill some basins of water to give their animals. Rerfer to the pictures below of animals drinking water near the well. 

A lady collecting water

Carrying the water home

A man carrying water home

Having this project at the church compound is the best idea because many people will have access to the water. The funds will go directly to the church administration, not to individual pockets.

The driller with whom we are engaging has done many such projects in several churches and organizations. He recently did a solar project about 15 miles away. Since they have to dig very deep in this area, a hand pump is not a good choice.  The driller is suggesting an electric pump since there is an electricity supply at the church. The water will be pumped to the overhead tank or water tower so that even if there is a blackout, people can still get water for use. When asked about a solar-powered pump, he said that it might be a little bit [more] expensive than doing an electric pump.

 Shown in the pictures below is the landmark where the project will be constructed, the nearby Reru Catholic Church.  It is also at the center of the location in question.

FUTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

Since the well is being managed by the church, future maintenance and repairs will be done by the church.
The church will come up with ways of monthly contributions towards maintenance and repairs.

Watering animals at the well

THE IMPACT OF CLEAN WATER

The school children will focus on their studies not worrying about traveling many kilometers for water. People will be able to do kitchen gardening and water their animals easily.

Diseases mentioned above, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, will be a thing of the past.  Unnecessary accidents will be a thing of the past.  The individuals coming and going for worship will not travel for many kilometers to fetch water.

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

The church where the project is to be dug is at the center of everything and everybody. It will serve many people. Since the pastor is a spiritual figure to everybody, there will be no discrimination in the distribution of the water.

PROJECT SPECIFICS AND TIMELINE

The total project cost will be $12,210 to provide a borehole well with a submersible electric pump, and a storage tank for the water.

– Labor and materials: $11,010
– Administrative:          $   1,200

Funding Is Required by December 20, 2023
Expected Start Date:      January 1, 2024
Expected Completion:   March 1, 2024