VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNR #2152/01 1420417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220417Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9827

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, WGARVELINK, 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, 
KCHANNELL, MBRENNAN 
DCHA/FFP FOR WHAMMINK, JDWORKEN 
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL KE
SUBJECT: IMPACT OF OFDA DROUGHT PROGRAMS IN KENYA. 
 
Summary 
 
¶1.  Communities in Kenya's Makueni District are 
benefiting from USAID/OFDA 2005-2006 drought 
programming.  A combination of newly constructed 
rainwater harvesting structures, expansion of piped 
water grids and rehabilitation of boreholes in several 
communities have improved water quality, increased 
household consumption and reduced the average distance 
traveled by residents to procure water.  Local district 
leaders report significant reductions in water-related 
diseases compared to the 2005-2006 drought period. 
Training programs, integrated into construction 
activities, have empowered previously marginalized 
groups to be more proactive with respect to water 
management and holding the government more accountable 
for services. End Summary. 
 
¶2.  From April 27 to 28, USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor 
and Disaster Operations Specialist traveled to the 
Makueni District to assess the project and participate 
in handover ceremonies held jointly with local 
beneficiaries and community leadership. 
 
Background 
 
¶3.  Erratic rainfall combined with natural resource 
mismanagement in Kenya's Makueni District negatively 
impacted food security and prompted the Kenyan 
government to appeal for emergency drought assistance 
in December 2005.  Makueni infrastructure is severely 
underdeveloped and the drought's effect on humanitarian 
conditions had grown beyond the government's capacity 
to assist.  USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (USAID/OFDA), through partner German Agro 
Action (GAA), responded with $1.8 million in drought 
emergency and mitigation programming that addressed 
both the short- and long-term water issues for more 
than 225,000 affected residents(In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA 
awarded $6.6 million to seven international partners to 
assist drought affected areas throughout Kenya). 
 
¶4.  Two consecutive normal rainy seasons in Makueni 
District have significantly improved humanitarian 
indicators.  USAID/OFDA partner GAA recently completed 
construction activities including traditional rock 
rainwater catchments systems, rainwater roof harvesting 
schemes at schools and rehabilitation of boreholes in 
several locations in the district. 
 
Local Technologies Key to Resolving Water Issues 
 
¶5.  With USAID/OFDA support, GAA constructed 3 rock 
rainwater catchments and 38 school rainwater collecting 
systems, added 20 kilometers of pipe to local water 
distribution systems, and rehabilitated 26 boreholes 
over the last 24 months (A March 2007 project 
evaluation by GAA consultants determined that if only 
0.03 percent of the area's average annual rainfall was 
captured, it would provide 20 liters of water per day 
for every person in the district throughout the year). 
The construction of 50,000- to 150,000-liter rainwater 
holding tanks at numerous schools and rock catchments 
builds upon traditional water harvesting technologies. 
Once filled, the rainwater reservoirs are able to 
provide water to schools and communities for several 
months during seasonal dry periods. 
 
¶6.  Villagers reported that the cash for work scheme 
tied to program construction activities was critical to 
help overcome the short-term effects of the drought. 
Women generally composed more than 50 percent of the 
labor force at each of the construction sites and 
several women interviewed reported that cash payments 
for work allowed them to purchase food and other 
household essentials during the critical period. 
 
Improvements in Public Health 
 
¶7.  Several village leaders reported that incidents of 
diarrhea and skin diseases among children have sharply 
declined when compared to last year's drought period. 
Bilharzia, historically common during the dry season, 
has decreased as a result of the new constructions 
providing an alternative to drawing water directly from 
Bilharzia-infested rivers.  Several representatives 
from local women's groups reported that families now 
routinely access as much water as they need daily due 
to the close proximity of water points and that the 
additional water, combined with recent training 
provided by GAA, had improved hygiene practices. 
 
Impact of Community Training 
 
¶8.  Targeted community training programs attached to 
the water harvesting construction activities, including 
training on democracy and governance issues, has 
challenged tradition in many of the previously drought- 
affected Makueni communities.  Women, comprising more 
than 50 percent of the construction teams, now make up 
the majority of members of local water management and 
maintenance committees and commonly chair the 
committees.  GAA management reported that nascent water 
committees are increasingly vocal towards local 
governmental authorities with respect to improved 
provision of water, health and protection services. 
 
Conclusion / Recommendations 
 
¶9.  The drought that afflicted the Makueni District in 
south central Kenya has subsided following concurrent 
seasons of significant rainfall. 
 
¶10.  Rainwater harvesting and storage technologies, 
including the construction of rock catchment systems, 
rainwater catchments at schools, and rehabilitation of 
boreholes can provide enough water to support 
populations through the annual dry seasons.  The 
interventions are low cost, low tech solutions that 
provide a high impact on local populations. 
 
¶11.  Community training, including training on 
democracy and governance issues, empowers local groups 
to negotiate more effectively with authorities for 
services, improves management and maintenance of the 
water points, and creates greater participation 
opportunities for women. 
 
¶12.  Although the drought has passed, expanded water 
harvesting programs in areas of Makueni and neighboring 
Kitui Districts that have not benefited to date will 
mitigate the impact of future droughts.  The current 
model is cost effective and sustainable. 
 
RANNEBERGER.