Lasting, sustainable solutions to providing safe and reliable water does not start with steel and plumbing, but with listening and understanding our communities’ needs and concerns and taking action. In Oltepesi Le Maora, it was women like Agnes along with local elders and herders who first raised concerns about long walks to access water, the health risks of shared water points, and growing tensions between people, livestock, and wildlife specifically elephants. Their observations have guided where new infrastructure should be placed and how they should function. Therefore, as Agnes stands beside a newly protected borehole and water trough – one for people and the other for livestock and wildlife, she is just not a beneficiary but one of the voices that helped shape and provide this solution. Around her, cows low softly and women fetch water, a simple yet thoughtful design the community itself helped visualise.
“Separating water points for people, livestock, and wildlife keeps our water clean and prevents disease. It also reduces the chances of people meeting elephants at the water, which keeps everyone safe.” her practical wisdom echoes what many community members shared with us throughout the planning process.
Accompanied by three SORALO Board members, our team transversed across the Kajiado West and Central landscape from Mailua, Emotoroki, Ole Tepesi Le Maora, Emukutan, to Olasiti, and Indoinyio oo Selenken to officially hand over six out of seven boreholes that we have protected and equipped with vital water infrastructure. At each site visited, the mood was jovial – there was food, laughter, singing, and a deep sense of pride. The communities spoke of how life is changing this initiative has been – children are healthier, families spend less time walking for water, and communities now have safe, shared spaces for both people and wildlife minimising competition and conflict. These are not just boreholes, they are lifeline sources of health and harmony in a place where every drop matters.
As we handed over the projects, it was heart-warming to see how committed the communities were to take ownership and care for them because sustainability starts when people see a project as theirs.
To all our partners and donors, Ashe oleng. Your support did not just bring water, it strengthened the resilience, wellbeing, and unity of the South Rift communities who continue to lead the way in caring for their land.
