By Alex Maina
For a very long time some parts of Uasin Gishu County, clean water felt like a dream that was far from reach. In places like Kapchumba, Lelit, Belekenya, Kosirai, and Kapsaos, residents woke up daily to a hard truth to survive, they had to walk long distances just to fetch water.
According to Article 43(1)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya:
“Every person has the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities.”
Yet for many, this right was not being felt in real life.
Children, women, and the elderly carried heavy jerrycans on their backs. Valuable time was lost. Some children missed school. Some mothers had to choose between cooking or cleaning. The sick and elderly struggled in silence. Hygiene was difficult to maintain, especially for girls in school. Water was a basic need, but it felt like a privilege.
Mama Chebet, a mother of three from Kapchumba, shared her pain:
“There were days my children would sleep without bathing. I felt like I had failed them as a mother. Today, I see them playing clean, going to school on time I feel peace in my heart.”
These painful stories are shared by many. Mzee Kipruto, an elder from Lelit, said:
“I am old now. Walking for water was breaking my back. Sometimes I’d rest five times before reaching home. But now, I walk just a few steps. I thank God and the people who made this happen.”
Things are finally changing.
The County Government has stepped in to bring water closer to the people. In areas like Kapchumba, Lelit and Kapsaos, new community water kiosks have been built. People can now get clean water near their homes saving time, energy, and dignity. Bigger projects are also underway. The Meibeki Water Project in Karuna Meibeki Ward will be a game changer. It will have 16 high-capacity tanks, each holding 100,000 litres of water. It will serve over 1,200 households, 4 health centres, 6 cattle dips, and 6 trading centres.
In Momoniat, Kosirai, Legetet, Keregut and Nduroto, the Ngeria South Water Project is almost complete. It promises clean water, better hygiene, and support for farming and livestock keeping.
Mama Wanjiku, a farmer in Keregut, is hopeful:
“Without water, our crops were drying, and we lost livestock. Now with the project coming, I know our farm will grow, and we can sell more food.”
Water is not a luxury. It is a right.
