Our Projects
Mandera County is one of the 3 Counties that make up the North Eastern region of Kenya. It comprises of 12 sub-counties namely; Kutulo, Mandera Central, Mandera West, Dandu, Banisa, Kiliweheri, Mandera North, Ashabito, Lafey, Arabia, Khalalio, and Mandera East.
The county borders Ethiopia to the North, Somalia to the East, and Wajir County to the West and South. It has an area of 25,939.8 km2 with a total population of 1,200,890 persons (Source: the 2019 Population and Households Census). It lies in the low-potential ASAL areas of the country which is characterized by high temperatures and low, unreliable rainfall.
The local population is predominantly nomadic pastoralists, engaged in livestock keeping which is the mainstay of our economy. Poverty, resource inequality, and inaccessibility to basic infrastructure are recognized as major challenges in the county. These are major causes of conflicts in the county too. Indeed, the absence of political goodwill and outright neglect by previous regimes had ensnared the county in terms of development; making us to lag behind, in terms of development!
The permanent source of water in the County is River Daua. Thus; small-scale subsistence farming through irrigation, is practiced by the local population living in the lower parts of the county, along the River Daua belt mainly in Mandera North and Mandera East sub-counties.
For the larger nomadic pastoralists’ families; their main sources of water are Earth pans. These pans are dug by the nomadic pastoralists’ families with support from well-wishers. They are used to harvest and conserve rainwater run-offs during the rainy seasons. They use this water during the dry weather spells; for their households and livestock consumption.
Situation Analysis
Neboi location is one of 3 locations that make Neboi ward in Mandera East sub-county.
It has an estimated population of 50,000 persons (about 1,000 households) and is settled predominantly by peri-urban poor and destitute families.
The mainstream of these families has been rendered destitute after their livestock herds were wiped out by drought and famine. The majority of these families are engaged in earning their livelihood practicing small-scale irrigational farming on their farms located along the banks of River Daua.
Despite being engaged in peasant farming activities; a majority of families in the Neboi location face abject poverty. However, the absence of basic farming inputs coupled with poor rainfall and frequent floods have eroded their agricultural activities.
Consequently, due to a lack of political goodwill and outright neglect; the location is lagging behind, in terms of development! Regrettably, the local community faces acute water shortages, especially in Handadu village. It is not connected to the Handadu water supply which passes through the village and supplies clean and piped water to its neighboring Shafshafey village/location in the Township ward.
Thus, many families in Handadu village and its environs have no access to water, piped or otherwise. They get their water directly from River Daua; contaminated water and basically unsuitable for domestic use.
Indeed, many lives have been lost including women and children while fetching water from the River Daua. Others were killed and maimed by crocodiles when they went to the river to fetch water for domestic use. More villagers’ lives were lost when they drowned in the river drawing water from the river.
Proposed Handadu Village Water Supply
The proposed project involving an extension of water to Madrassa and Handadu village is aimed at giving the local population access to clean and piped water for domestic use.
These families will easily access clean and piped water without having to trek long distances to the river to fetch water. More women’s and children’s lives will be spared since drawing from the river will be a foregone conclusion!