Water sources dwindle in Kisii as leaders embrace borehole drilling

Young boys drink water from a newly drilled borehole at Sombogo in Kitutu Chache North,Kisii County. The borehole was drilled by Kisii Woman Representative Donya Dorice Aburi through the support of National Government Affirmative Action Fund(NGAAF). [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

One person in Kisii County needs 1,000 cubic meters of water annually, a report by the Kisii County Government Department of Water and Environment shows. However, due to the failure to conserve water sources, only 500 cubic meters are available per person annually.

This has pushed the demand for borehole water in the region, which calls for the protection of springs and streams that have been the only source of water reticulation for years. Many rivers, springs, swamps, marshlands, and seasonal water points in the region are on the verge of drying up due to increased human activities.