When the springs run dry: Drought pushes Kisii families to the brink

In the rural area of Kisii, the ongoing drought is causing severe water shortages, leading to tension and conflict among families. At the Rianyabicha water springs, two taps have already dried up, leaving residents scrambling for the limited water available. Women and young girls are spending hours in long queues at other springs, with safety concerns for the girls at night.

The water shortage is also disrupting economic activities, with construction work slowing down due to insufficient water supplies. The situation has even turned violent, with women fighting over limited water at the springs. The planting of eucalyptus trees near water sources is being blamed for the declining water levels, prompting calls for better protection of springs and their surroundings.

Wells that used to supply water to households are drying up, forcing residents to seek expensive alternatives or pay others to fetch water for them. The drought is also affecting cattle sheds, with pasture becoming scarce and milk production declining. Families that rely on milk sales for household expenses are being hit hard by the decline in production.

As the water sources shrink, residents are facing uncertainty about when to plant crops, with the threat of losing their seeds if the rains fail. The drought is threatening household water supplies, food production, livestock health, and incomes for a region where agriculture forms the backbone of rural livelihoods. The community is waiting for the rains to return, fearing that the conflict over the remaining water supplies will only escalate if the drought persists.