Under the shade of solar panels, men and women sit in a circle discussing water use, savings, and maintenance plans.
The heat signals the dry season is approaching, but for residents of Rubale, water security is no longer a distant dream. It is a system they now manage themselves.
For years, life in this village in Garissa County revolved around the search for water. Women left before sunrise and returned late after walking distances to unreliable sources. Livestock suffered, routines were disrupted, and time for work, childcare, and rest was scarce.
Islamic Relief Kenya, with funding from Islamic Relief UK, drilled and solarised a borehole through the Garissa Environmental and WASH Enhancement Project in Rubale village. The intervention brought reliable water closer to homes and placed its management firmly in community hands.
A Water Users Committee of men and women now oversees the system. Members were trained on borehole operation and maintenance, monitoring losses, safe storage, and contamination prevention.
“The training changed everything,” said Aden Yarrow, the committee’s chairperson. “We now know how to maintain the borehole and make decisions together as a community. This water system belongs to us.”
He added that the lessons went beyond technical skills. “Managing water is not just technical work, it is also about trust. We plan together, save together, and agree on how the water is used.”
“Before, we left very early to look for water and returned home late,” said Habiba Sigale, a community member. “It was exhausting and left no time for anything else. Now water is available throughout the day, and we can focus on our homes and children.”
To keep the system sustainable, each family contributes a small maintenance fee saved in a community bank account. Withdrawals require consultation, and records and budgets are reviewed monthly to ensure transparency.
The project also provided jerrycans to 200 families for safe water storage and energy-saving cookstoves to 400 households, reducing reliance on firewood and promoting safer practices.
As drought risks loom, Rubale’s community-managed water system ensures dignity and resilience of children, women and the community.
