KWAHO - Kenya Water for Health Organisation

Taita Hills Forests: Our Heritage, Our Responsibility

Vol. 1 No 5 July, 1999
Water to the people of Wongonyi

By J. Mwang'ombe and D. Mwanyumba.
Originally published on: http://www.taita--..l

The people of Wongonyi came together in 1985 and initiated the Mwalui water project to provide them with clean piped water and within easy reach from the Mbololo forest. Mbololo forest (approximately 168ha) provides the catchment for a number of streams that serve the people in Wongonyi and in lower zones such as Ghazi, Ndome, Tausa, Kighombo, Msau and others further afield.

The Mwalui water project originally started as an undertaking of a bible school in the area which had been established by missionaries. The project also benefited immensely from the services of a foreign student attached to the college. She did the surveying and mapping for all the piping that was needed to supply all the residents/villages of Wongonyi with water.

Apart from the remarkable efforts of the local community, the project has received two major boosts. The then Minister for Water, Hon. Paul Ngei donated a full set of plumbing tools for maintenance of the water project. A few years later, Swedish International Development Agency, with Kenya Water for Health Organisations (KWAHO) as the implementing agency, provided funds that greatly expanded the water project. More intakes and storage tanks were built and pipes laid. Again, the local community contributed enthusiastically by providing the labour required to move the materials such as cement, sand, blocks, pipes and equipment among others to the work sites. Those who could not contribute in kind did so by paying others to do so on their behalf.

During the 1997 El Nino rains, a section of the water project was extensively damaged with some parts of Wongonyi going without water. The East African Wild Life Society Integrated Forest Conservation and Management Project in Taita, came to the rescue. The committee of Wongonyi listed the rehabilitation of the water project as a priority among the projects they would wish to carry out. As before, the residents contributed immensely in kind by providing the labour to move the materials such as pipes, sand and cement. The work involved building and fencing of the water intake, construction of the desilting chambers and the break pressure tank and laying of the pipes. The project has a total of six water intake points and is currently serving about 75% of the residents.

The water project is managed by an elected committee with a chairperson, a secretary and treasurer with their assistants and seven other members with the area administrator as a co-opted member. The committee guides all the activities of the project and is elected every three years. The project employs three permanent staff; a clerk who collects the rates and keeps records, and two plumbers who maintain the pipes. These are paid from the monthly rates collected. The monthly rates are also used to meet the maintenance costs and for expansion wherever there is a surplus. The monthly rates are levied based on the perceived water consumption. People fetching water from a common point pay KShs 20, those with a tap outside the house pay KShs 40, a house with taps inside is charged KShs 60, homes with all the above and a swimming pool KShs 100 and institutions KShs 100 too. For one to enjoy these services, one must become a member by paying KShs 660 (referred to as shares), KShs 20 (membership fee) and KShs 20 (commitment fee). There are also charges for a resident who never contributed towards the project from the beginning. Deterrent measures are applied to avoid misuse of water or damage to the pipes by residents. This is a project of the community by the community and for the community.

Any assistance whether financial or otherwise towards the expansion of the project or in training of the personnel would highly be appreciated.