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Tackling climate change in Kenya by providing water pipes

How Trócaire helped thousands of farmers to access water after recurrent droughts

Easy access to water has transformed future outcomes for farmer Samwel Kariuki and his family in rural Kenya.
Easy access to water has transformed future outcomes for farmer Samwel Kariuki and his family in rural Kenya.
Thu Jul 27 2023 - 01:00

Samwel Kariuki is a farmer in the Tharaka-Nithi District, central Kenya. Due to a recurring drought for many years, Kariuki struggled to grow crops on his two acres of land and had to travel to urban areas for work. As water was scarce in his village, Kariuki and his family would have to walk four kilometres each day to collect water. Many nights, the household would go to bed hungry.

Kariuki is one of thousands of farmers in the region coping daily with the effects of climate change. Average temperatures have risen by one degree Celsius since the 1970s, and the rains, which once came like clockwork, are no longer reliable.

This means that crops wither and die, and with no reserves or money in the bank, many families are forced to beg for food or go without. Some have also been forced to leave their land and move to the cities.

Building a water lifeline

In 2012, Trócaire and partner Caritas Meru started construction of a water pipe in the Tharaka-Nithi district to connect some 8,000 people to water.

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With funding from Irish Aid and Australian Aid, the water pipe - the Gitgo-Kamainde pipeline - which runs for 40km, sources water from the Ruguti River. The water pipe provided connected people with enough water for around half an acre of land, and allows them to grow crops - even when drought hits.

The Kariuki family are now able to grow a wide variety of crops such as tomatoes, kale, pictured, maize, avocado and sweet potato. Excess produce is sold and pays for education
The Kariuki family are now able to grow a wide variety of crops such as tomatoes, kale, pictured, maize, avocado and sweet potato. Excess produce is sold and pays for education

Self-sufficiency and income from excess crops

Kariuki is one of the 8,000 people who benefited from the Gitgo-Kamainde pipeline. He received training from Caritas on farm management and income generation. He was also supported to construct a concrete-lined pond to store water for irrigation.

Kariuki says the Gitgo-Kamainde pipeline was a game-changer for his community. The family are now able to grow a wide variety of crops such as tomatoes, kale, maize, avocado and sweet potato. Kariuki says he can now feed and educate his children.

“I don’t have to do casual labour any more or buy food because I grow all my own. I have plenty of vegetables, fruits and I have maize all the time because I plant in portions which mature at different times. My wife doesn’t need to go as far to fetch water as she used to do before. My farm these days is my employer, from where I get food and money to pay school fees for my children,” Kariuki says.

He added that his family no longer go to bed hungry and they eat three meals a day.

For 50 years, Trócaire has been working with supporters, partners and communities to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Discover more here.