Hope on tap

Narkruk is a 66-year-old grandmother living on the front lines of the climate crisis. The arid conditions where she lives in Turkana (north-west Kenya), are harsh and unforgiving. Persistent droughts make cultivating the land extremely difficult, and these are only becoming more frequent due to climate change.

“There is no rain. My animals died due to drought and there was no way for me to support my family”

After her husband died, Narkruk was left with nothing. The crops she planted in the barren ground didn’t grow. She resorted to making charcoal and selling it for a tiny income, adding to the desertification in the area.

When Practical Action began working with the community to install a solar water pump in her area, Narkruk finally found hope for the future. Boreholes and solar-powered water pumps were installed at eight sites in Turkana, as identified by the regional authorities.

Meanwhile, local residents have formed ‘Water User Associations’ and learnt how to maintain and manage these communal irrigation points. Previously, people had to dig up to ten metres down into the riverbed to access water. But now, with the water pumps it’s quick and easy to draw the water up. And it’s safe, clean and drinkable.

Narkruk now has a small kitchen garden where, thanks to these irrigation pumps, she grows sweetcorn, tomatoes and other crops. Aside from safe drinking water for people and animals, access to water also improves hygiene and brings new possibilities for livelihoods. Narkruk now has hopes of planting pastureland and making hay to sell, so that she can save up to buy livestock.

Now Narkruk is optimistic about her future, “this water availability is already helping people”, she said, “I feel this is all changing now, I am happy”.

Transform the lives of more people like Narkruk. Please give today.