Christopher Omondi.
Kondele Primary School in Migosi ward, Kisumu County is experiencing water shortage with the situation forcing the School’s administration to come up with measures to ensure that every drop counts. The whole school depends on one 10,000-liter tank of clean water for consumption and this has left students seeking for water from other places including people who reside near the school or even at the Migosi Hospital. The water from the school’s tank is being rationed to ensure effective usage.
The tank that has not recently gotten any refill due to a breakage on its inlet pipe and as a result needs water restrictions. “The pipe that helps in harvesting rainwater into this tank recently broke down, leaving us with minimal options, and as a result, we resorted to rationing as we deem this situation temporary. The school relies on this water for meal preparation in the Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) department, for consumption by students and teachers, and as a result, the tap is locked and only opened at specific times. This has left the students to resort to carrying water from home or, at times, even asking for water from residents or neighboring institutions like the Migosi Pentecostal church and Migosi Hospital. It is a sad situation considering Kondele Primary and Nursery School is one of the oldest schools in the area. The best solution would be to provide more tanks even if they are of smaller capacities so that other departments that are in crucial need of water, like the ECDE, can get it’’, said Mr. John Omungi, who is the school’s security.
The water scarcity issue at the school has not been taken lightly by residents within the community, including parents and teachers, with one reporting observations he made during the school games. “The water shortage in this school has been going on for some time, stretch it back to the beginning of term two when the school games were at the early stages. Some games were held at this school, meaning students from other school came here, it was a very bad and embarrassing situation.’’ said June Ochola.
Water is a basic need, and it is depressing that students at Kondele Primary School have to strain to have it in limited capacity, which is a sad state
