US embassy cable - 05NAIROBI4165

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NAIROBI 004165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA FOR WGARVELINK, LROGERS 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, IMACNAIRN, 
KCHANNELL 
DCHA/FFP FOR LLANDIS, SBRADLEY 
AFR/EA FOR JBORNS, SMCCLURE 
ROME FOR FODAG 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER 
STATE FOR JGAFFNEY, NGAREY 
NSC FOR JMELINE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, KE, Drought 
SUBJECT:  DROUGHT PERSISTS IN KENYA'S MAKUENI 
DISTRICT 
 
Summary 
 
1.  Rainfall amounts below historical averages 
continue to negatively affect residents in several 
Divisions of the Makueni District, Kenya.  The lack 
of rain and ground water has impacted local 
livelihoods, public health and been responsible for a 
significant out migration.  Poor management and 
negligent water conservation practices are 
compounding the problem. OFDA partners German Agro 
Action (GAA) and World Vision (WV) are effectively 
addressing water and sanitation needs in the District 
through construction and community education 
activities.  The Humanitarian situation in general 
has changed little since the last OFDA visit to the 
District in March 2005.  Stakeholders are hoping that 
the seasonal Short Rains (October ? December) will 
provide relief to the region.  End Summary 
 
Background 
 
2.  OFDA Regional Advisor visited OFDA supported GAA 
activities in the Kibwezi Division of Makueni on 
September 14-15; and WV projects in Kathonzweni 
Division on September 21-22.  GAA received USD 
500,000 from OFDA to construct 5 water catchment 
tanks at local primary schools and 2 shallow wells. 
In September, OFDA awarded WV USD 232,000 to increase 
access to clean water in the Kathonzweni Division 
through the construction and rehabilitation of 
shallow wells.  Both interventions include community 
education components focused on water management, 
sanitation and conservation.  During the visits, on 
site interviews were conducted with local residents, 
government officials, and the local Member of 
Parliament (MP). 
 
Current Situation 
 
3.  Makueni District continues to be affected by 
inadequate rainfall.  The recent Long Rains 
Assessment (conducted jointly by UN and GOK 
officials) found that more than 76 percent of the 
population in Makueni drinks untreated water, the 
average distance traveled to collect water was 
between 6-8 kilometers, and diarrhea disease was the 
areas major morbidity. 
 
4.  Although a fee-based government water pipeline 
serves communities along the main highway, the 
network does not extend to the majority of the 
outlying population.  Traditional water points such 
as streams and ponds have all but dried up.  Several 
primary schools visited had no dedicated water points 
and were dependent on contributions from student 
families for drinking and hygiene needs. 
 
5.  Little has changed from the last OFDA visit to 
the area in March 2005.  There were few signs of 
government investment with respect to improving 
access to water.  Government humanitarian 
interventions in Makueni are primarily food for work 
schemes targeting politically important 
constituencies.  However, nutrition is not a concern 
in Makueni according to an August UNICEF assessment 
which found global acute malnutrition rates below 4 
percent. 
 
6.  The conditions in the Kathonzweni Division of 
Makueni are best described as bone dry and there has 
been no significant rainfall for the last three 
years.  Agricultural fields are barren, there is 
little green vegetation to speak of, and the dirt 
tracts are covered with 3 inches of fine dust powder. 
Water for many of the residents of Kathonzweni comes 
from the Athi River which snakes through the region. 
The drought's impact on agriculture (areas main 
source of livelihood) has forced many head of 
household to migrate to Nairobi or surrounding cities 
in search of day labor. 
 
7.  Despite the fact that the water table is 
relatively high, there are few proper wells and 
families travel significant distances to collect 
water.  Families interviewed reported spending 3-4 
hours per day collecting water for household use, 
which detracts from using time for other productive 
pursuits (education, animal husbandry).  Donkeys 
loaded with water containers are a constant site 
through out the Division.  Wells that were visited 
were in disrepair and open to contamination from 
animals and people.  Many of the children seen had 
obvious sanitation related skin diseases, and several 
children that should have been in school were helping 
mothers collect and transport water for the 
household.  Livelihood generally depends on the sale 
of livestock or remittance payments. 
 
OFDA Partners 
 
8.  OFDA supports GAA emergency activities promoting 
increased access to clean water.  Five 50,000 liter 
water tanks have been constructed at primary schools 
in the Makindu and Kibwezi Divisions providing for 
more than 3,500 students.  The tanks collect 
rainwater from the roofs of the adjacent schools. 
This scheme was chosen since the depth required for 
digging wells is cost prohibitive.  All five of the 
water tanks had been completed, rain has already 
started to fall at some of the school locations, and 
the tanks seem to be functioning well.  School 
officials were grateful for the assistance and 
optimistic that water collected will contribute to 
hygiene improvement. 
 
9.  Two shallow OFDA wells now completed are 
providing clean water to 300 families.  High levels 
of community participation were evident at all 
project sites as indicated by the substantial 
material and labor support provided; and by the speed 
at which the structures were finished.  Residents are 
maintaining the sites to ensure that interventions 
are sustainable beyond the current emergency. 
 
10.  Through partner World Vision, five shallow wells 
will be constructed or rehabilitated, and an existing 
community motorized system will be extended in the 
Kathonzweni Division.  These interventions will 
provide clean water to more than 40,000 people and 
activities are expected to be completed in 6 months. 
World Vision has already identified staff, materials, 
and sensitized communities to the activity. 
Construction activities will be complimented with 
sanitation and conservation education that includes 
training for water point management. 
 
      Local Government 
 
11.  The District Water Commissioner for Makueni 
acknowledged the drought and discussed government 
intentions for providing assistance.  Quality of 
existing water sources was a concern since the Athi 
River is polluted with heavy metals and other 
contaminants.  District assessments found that more 
than 50 percent of the population traveled 10 
kilometers to locate a water source.  An estimated 71 
percent of the population of Makueni lives below the 
poverty line and it is considered Kenya's second 
poorest District. 
 
12.  The Commissioner stressed the importance of 
community education and organization as a resolution 
of the current problem.  He felt that although the 
government had money available to assist with 
expanding access to clean water, many of the affected 
communities did not have the capacity to manage or 
maintain a local water point. The Commissioner was 
aware of USAID/OFDA activities in the District and 
reiterated his support.  The interventions fit well 
with national and local water policies and he was 
especially supportive of the community training 
components. 
 
13.  The local MP, Mr. Kivutha Kibwana, was 
coincidently residing at the local hotel in Wote 
town.  He acknowledged that improved access to clean 
water is a priority, was familiar with and confident 
in the capacity of OFDA implementation partners and 
their relationships with local communities.  He 
emphasized the need to strengthen community capacity 
to manage and sustain the international assistance 
provided.  He is concerned about the flight of people 
from the area in search of livelihood opportunities 
and said he was working to fully exploit the local 
potential for agriculture as a resolution to the 
problem. 
 
Conclusions 
 
14.  The field visits support the finding of the 
recent UN/GOK Long Rain Assessment that drought 
continues to affect residents in the Makueni District 
and access to clean water needs to be improved. 
During the visit, no notable increase in water 
related disease or malnutrition when compared to the 
OFDA visit last March was found. 
 
15.  Access to water in sufficient quantities (for 
personal, animal, and agricultural use) continues to 
be a major problem for rural populations in the 
Kathonzweni, Makindu and Kibwezi Divisions.  The 
situation is most acute at primary schools and rural 
villages far from the government sponsored water 
pipeline located along the Mombassa Highway.  The 
harvesting of rain water is a practical and cost 
effective response to providing water in southern 
Makueni communities due to the expense of digging 
wells or extending piped water from central 
government locations.  Shallow well construction is 
appropriate in the eastern sections of the Makueni 
District due to the elevated water table. 
 
16.  GAA has done a good job implementing the current 
USAID/OFDA program.  The construction of 5 water 
catchment tanks and two shallow wells have been 
completed ahead of schedule.  Sanitation and water 
management education activities continue. 
 
17.  World Vision has implemented several successful 
programs in the District and is a capable USAID/OFDA 
partner.  Government authorities have endorsed 
USAID/OFDA activities since they complement the 
national and local strategic water objectives. 
Community education and water management training 
will improve impact and promote sustainability of the 
identified projects. 
 
18.  Improved rains during the short rain season 
scheduled for October-December will increase the 
availability of water from natural water points and 
local water harvesting schemes, thus providing an 
exit opportunity for current USAID/OFDA activities. 
BELLAMY