Musembe Primary School

Project Snapshot

Country: Kenya

GPS Coordinates:
  Latitude 0.601891
  Longitude 34.511856

Impact:
  Total Served: 500

Status:  Completed (?)

Completion Date (or estimate): 01/31/2012

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This information was provided by our partner IcFEM

Musembe Primary School, Mbakalo

The region known as Mbakalo is found within Trans-Nzoia county which is on highly fertile agricultural land. There are no large towns in Mbakalo though you can find small shops selling basic items and on a Monday the market allows traders and villagers to sell and buy produce such as livestock, vegetables, fruit and clothes. There is another market each Tuesday in Lungu village. Mbakalo has no major industry or employers, most people survive as subsistence farmers. There are primary and secondary schools in Mbakalo as well as a polytechnic and a teachers training college.

A particular feature of the area is the picturesque Nzoia river which runs through the region, and also provides the water for several villages which have sprung up alongside the river. However, there are a large number of other villages which are found away from the river which have particular challenges relating to a lack of available clean water.

IcFEM staff met with Mary and Rose from the Musembe village, in which Musembe Primary School is found. Musembe is just one of those villages with an acute need for clean water. Villagers grouped together in past years to protect one of the springs a couple of kilometres away, although this water is not considered to be fully safe for drinking. This spring forms the main water source for Musembe village, with other local villages (Kananechi and Mtoto A) and Lunyu market also currently using that spring as their primary water source. Some water-related diseases are prevalent in the area, particularly diarrhoea and typhoid resulting from this spring water. Cattle and other animals are also brought to the water sources in order to drink and wash, which further reduces the water quality for the villagers, yet even more concerning is that in the dry season, this spring – like many others away from the river – dries up causing major issues for the villagers in finding water.

The project will offer a much improved water source for the residents of Musembe and other surrounding villages. This will make their lives much easier and protect them from diseases that afflict them at the current time. They are hopeful that this project will improve their lives and help everyone in the community.

GPS is approximate

Project Photos

Recent Project Updates

01/16/2012: Musembe pump installed!

Bridge Water Project have returned to the site after allowing the concrete works to cure, and have installed the Afridev hand pump. The community are now using the water, although IcFEM and BWP are planning an official handover event in the coming days. We will of course update the page with photos of the event just as soon as we have them!  

01/03/2012: Musembe test pumped and well pad constructed

The borehole at Musembe has been flushed, test pumped, and the concrete well pad constructed. This is another important step along the road to the community at Musembe having improved access to clean water. Once the concrete work has cured - in around 7 days time - the team will return to the site and install the handpump. 

10/05/2011: Update on progress at Musembe Primary School

IcFEM have completed the community education, and report a great response from the community and a real improvement on the ground. Hygiene and sanitation has been a focus of this education, but IcFEM have also worked through ideas relating to water source management and sustainability. 

The borehole has been drilled, and it has a great yield, suitable for either a submersible electric pump or a simple handpump. We are so happy to be able to report this! 

However, there are two issues that we need to address before this project can progress further. Firstly, there have  been some logistical issues with the District Water Office in Western Kenya relating to the paper work required for this project. Ourselves at TWP, the contractor we hired for the borehole drilling, and IcFEM are all working hard to push these issues through, and hope to be able to complete this project soon. Secondly, the lab results we have got back from the Ministry for Water indicate that the the water has high fluoride levels, beyond the acceptable levels according to the World Heath Organisation. High fluoride is an issue that can be addressed through water treatment, but the issue is choosing a technological response that is appropriate for the community.

We are currently exploring our options, alongside IcFEM and the community itself, and will update this page just as soon as we have agreed on a way forward. 

08/22/2011: Musembe Update

August 22nd latest news update. 

I've just been sent this update from the field on progress at Musembe: 

Project Launch Meeting

Residents from the villages around Musembe Primary School met together to plan for the water project development in the Lunyu location, through support from The Water Project and other project partners. Key local figures such as the local chief were in attendance at a meeting facilitated by IcFEM’s WASH project coordinator, Janet Bakasa. Topics discussed included the requirements for community involvement in the project, the responsibilities for the borehole management committee members, and the timescales for the project. This was the first of several meetings which are taking place to ensure strong community ownership and participation in this project. 

05/03/2011: Musembe Primary - update

This project is one of ten that form a ten project programme with IcFEM and Water For All.