NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 25 – More than 8,000 residents of OloKurto in Narok North are set to gain access to a new community water system aimed at easing water shortages and supporting household and agricultural activities.

The Oloserian Mao water project, supported by the EABL Foundation and implemented with Ja Gedo Innovations and Frisco Engineering, includes a borehole, a 24-cubic-metre elevated water tank, a solar-powered pumping and irrigation system and a community water point.

The system will serve households around Oloserian Mao Secondary School as well as the school itself, while the irrigation component is expected to support small-scale farming and food production.

KBL Managing Director Andrew Kilonzo said improved water access could help address constraints affecting households and economic activity in the area.

“By commissioning the Oloserian Mao water project, we are helping to close a gap in access to clean and safe water that has affected this community for a long time.”

“Reliable water is essential not only for health and sanitation, but also for education, livelihoods and the ability of communities to realise their full potential.”

Residents have previously relied on distant water sources or bought water, increasing the cost and time required to meet household needs.

The burden has particularly affected women and children who are often responsible for collecting water.

Regina Nkoriompai, a resident, said the new supply would reduce the time and money spent looking for water.

“When the water ran out, we had to go to other places to look for it. We spent a lot of time and money getting water, and sometimes the water was not safe for our children.”

“We are very thankful to the people who have brought this water to our community.”

The project comes as access to reliable water remains closely linked to household welfare, education and rural livelihoods, particularly in areas where communities depend on rain-fed agriculture.

Its solar-powered irrigation component could provide residents with an opportunity to supplement household food production, although the long-term economic benefits will depend on how effectively the infrastructure is managed and maintained.

A 13-member Water Management Committee has been trained to oversee the system and coordinate its use, with community ownership intended to support its sustainability.

Committee chairman Richard Kishoiyan said residents would need to take responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure.

“We have been trained, and we must make sure that the water resource and the infrastructure are protected for our children and the generations that come after us.”

The project therefore combines domestic water access with productive use, with its impact likely to depend on continued maintenance, responsible water management and the community’s ability to make productive use of the irrigation infrastructure.