This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage Nairobi's informal settlements, residents in Kibra and other areas are enjoying free water for the first time. The initiative, which started in April, has seen millions of litres of water pumped into the slums every day.
According to the Athi Water Works Development Agency, 14 million litres of water have been pumped into the slums. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has sunk 93 boreholes, with 12 in Kibra, 10 in Mukuru, and eight in Mathare. Residents can now fill up their containers at designated points, making water vendors' business unsustainable.
Residents like Damaris Kemunto and Maureen Auma, who rely on water vendors, are now benefiting from the free water supply. Kemunto, a resident of Kibra, has never seen a drop of water from the pipes installed in the area. However, with the recent influx of free water, she can now access water at her doorstep.
Community organisations such as Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) and Safaricom Foundation are working together to provide free water to residents in Kibra and other slums. Shofco has sunk overnight boreholes and erected tanks to provide free water to residents.
As long as the pandemic lasts, residents in Kibra and other informal settlements will not need to buy water. The initiative has been a game-changer for residents who previously relied on water vendors, who charged exorbitant prices for a 20-litre jerrican.
“The cost of buying water takes a significant portion of household earnings in Kibra,” says Okwama Eric, who runs the water project in the area.
With the free water supply, residents can now focus on other essential needs, and the water vendors' business is slowly coming to an end.
