For years, families in Kathlash village, Garissa County, lived at the mercy of water scarcity, relying on expensive water trucks or walking long distances in harsh conditions.
We used to depend on water trucks, but it was never enough and very costly,
recalls Maalim Abdi Rage, the village Imam. Now, we have a reliable source of water. It has brought life back to our community.
In 2025, Islamic Relief Kenya, with support from Islamic Relief USA, drilled and solarised a borehole in Kathlash under the SHEEP programme. Children who once spent hours searching for water are now in school. Families can get clean water within minutes of home, and pastoralists can care for their livestock better.
The borehole has also become a community asset. Regulated water sales to vendors supplying neighbouring villages bring in income that pays for maintenance and fuel, so the system stays community managed.
For mothers like Bishar Gabey, who once walked up to 20 kilometres for water, the change is profound: Now we access clean water easily. I have more time to care for my children and livestock.
Story from the Islamic Relief Kenya Annual Report 2025.
