Drought Resilience: Northern Kenya Communities Adopt New Water Harvesting Techniques

Facing recurrent droughts, communities across Northern Kenya are proactively adopting advanced water harvesting techniques to secure their water supply and enhance resilience. Projects supported by local NGOs and international partners are introducing technologies such as sand dams, subsurface dams, and improved rainwater harvesting systems for households and communal areas. These initiatives aim to capture and store seasonal rainfall, making water available during dry spells for both human consumption and livestock. Local elders emphasize the critical importance of these projects, stating they have significantly reduced the distances women and children travel to fetch water, freeing up time for education and other productive activities. Training programs are also underway to equip community members with the skills to maintain and manage these new water infrastructure systems, ensuring their long-term sustainability and impact on food security.