Water is Life

In Canada, water is a necessity for showers, washing clothes and dishes, and even our vehicles.

In Kenya, water is life.  With water, crops grow, animals survive, food can be made and cooked, clothes can be washed, and yes, vehicles can be washed.  In most of the villages we’ve passed through, at least on the highway, there’s been a large black water tank with a car wash sign on it.  I’ve seen many cars, motorcycles, and even a bicycle being washed.  Considering what a precious commodity water is, I’m surprised by the number of carwashes I’ve seen, even if they are washing by hand.

On our second day at Utooni, as we toured several sand dam projects, we met a group of women and children getting water upstream of a sand dam.  They told us the sand dam and resulting stable water source, made their life easier because their multiple trips to get water each day took significantly less time.  As we spoke to the women, several groups of livestock came down to the riverbed to be watered, also taking advantage of a water source that’s now always there.

As we have driven to and from the sand dams, we have seen children carrying water on their walk to school.  We’ve seen women carrying 20 L of water on their backs, held by a strap around their head.  We’ve also seen donkeys loaded down with jerry cans of water, making their way from a water hole or tank, their minders following behind

People in Kenya, at least in the rural area around Kola, where Utooni Development Organization is based, devote a large part of every day, to getting water.  They know that without water, crops die, animals become emaciated, there is no food to prepare, and clean clothes don’t matter.  They understand that without water, there is no life.

Judy Epp