Rotary Clubs deliver Remarkable Clean Water Project to Narok Community

As impossible as it seemed, an elated RC-Karengata D9212 recently handed over a water project to a community in Narok County.

The project, a collaboration with RC Irvine D5320, was completed in a record seven months. It was effected in April 2019 when RC Irvine provided close to $70,000 in sponsorship. The project’s community partners were ‘I See Maasai’ for community leadership and ‘With My Own Two Hands,’ a local NGO.

A beautiful sunrise unfolding in the tropical savannah plains is one of the lasting memories you’ll probably have of this place called Nashulai.

The Nashulai Community of Sekenani consists of about 2,400 men, women, and children of diverse ages. The intriguing thing about them is their way of life. They live in a unique conservation model in the World famous Maasai Mara. This conservancy stands out for the practical coexistence of the people, their livestock, and wildlife, all in perfect harmony.

Their main economic activities are cattle rearing, small scale trading and farming.

But the challenge: Amidst all these beauty, calm, and cohesiveness has been an endless wait for accessible clean water. Lack of clean water has had adverse effects on their quality of life.

About the Project

The viable solution was to rehabilitate a seasonal spring at a place called Oldarpoi camp. Then the delivery of accessible clean water, would entail harnessing water that would then flow into a 50,000 litre capacity storage tank.

For the community to access it, high voltage solar energy would be required to pump it into another 50,000 litre capacity tank up-stream. From here, it would then flow 6kms downhill through a laid down pipeline into various water points.

The water points are:

• 2 x cattle troughs with the ability to serve 100 cows at a time.
• 3 x water kiosks to generate income and sustain the piping system.
• 4 x bathrooms.
• 4 x toilet facilities.

Milestones

December 2019: Project completed and approved

21 May 2020: Virtual handover ceremony

RC-Karengata, as the implementer, coordinated from Nairobi with RC-Olulunga and RC Enkare Narok. Being near to it, they could access the physical location and literally walk everyone through it.

RC Irvine, RC Nairobi North, RC Karen, and RC Ongata Rongai joined in via ZOOM.

Rotary’s main objective is service –in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the World. In practice of this, the community’s youth led by their elders in gratitude (for the project) have been planting trees, including bamboo seedlings in water shades to protect and restore the river. They’re determined to regenerate their natural environment to ensure that the water keeps flowing.

We look forward to receiving positive reports on the far-reaching impact that it is bound to have on the Nashulai Community. Notably, this project enabled several RCs to collaborate in service to local communities. We lived out the motto ‘Service Above Self.’

In serving the Nashulai Community, the RCs also gained insurmountably. Through it, we were inspired; our esteem and collective goodwill was enhanced. It was a win-win for all.