• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Sunday, June 22, 2025
  • Login
The Vaultz News
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • General News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Opinions
  • Economics
    • Economy
    • Finance
      • Banking
      • Insurance
      • Pension
    • Securities/Markets
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Vaultz Business
    • Extractives/Energy
    • Real Estate
  • World
    • Africa
    • America
    • Europe
    • UK
    • USA
    • Asia
    • Around the Globe
  • Innovation
    • Technology
    • Wheels
  • Entertainment
  • 20MOBPL2DNew
  • Jobs & Scholarships
    • Job Vacancies
    • Scholarships
No Result
View All Result
The Vaultz News
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • General News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Opinions
  • Economics
    • Economy
    • Finance
      • Banking
      • Insurance
      • Pension
    • Securities/Markets
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Vaultz Business
    • Extractives/Energy
    • Real Estate
  • World
    • Africa
    • America
    • Europe
    • UK
    • USA
    • Asia
    • Around the Globe
  • Innovation
    • Technology
    • Wheels
  • Entertainment
  • 20MOBPL2DNew
  • Jobs & Scholarships
    • Job Vacancies
    • Scholarships
No Result
View All Result
The Vaultz News
No Result
View All Result

Sand Dams Tackle Kenya’s Drought Crisis

March 25, 2024
Lawrence Ankutseby Lawrence Ankutse
in Africa
0
Sand Dams Tackle Kenya’s Drought Crisis

A sand dam under construction in Kenya

Imagine cracked earth stretching as far as the eye can see, and communities desperately searching for water. This grim reality is becoming all too common across Africa as climate change fuels devastating droughts. 

But in Kenya, there’s a glimmer of hope shining through the arid landscape: sand dams. These simple yet ingenious structures are changing lives, providing a lifeline for communities struggling against the dry spell.

Villagers construct a sand dam, a structure designed to collect water from rivers that only flow at certain times of the year. These dams, usually made of concrete, slow down the flow of water, causing sand particles to settle behind them. This creates a sort of underground reservoir that fills up when it rains.

RelatedPosts

Sudan Opposition Seeks African Backing For Ceasefire

ECOWAS Council Charts Path Toward Regional Resilience

Rwandan Opposition Leader Detained Over New Charges

In places, where rivers only flow a few times a year, and there aren’t many pipes or other ways to get water, many people rely on these rivers for drinking water. 

By building sand dams on these rivers, people can scoop water from the sand or use hand pumps, which helps to prevent water from evaporating and replenish the groundwater. 

This is becoming more important because climate change, caused by humans, is making droughts last longer, scientists say. 

The idea of using sand dams has become popular in dry areas of Kenya and some other parts of Africa where people need a steady supply of water.

However, experts warned that it’s crucial to choose the right locations for these dams to make sure they actually work.

Rhoda Peter
Rhoda Peter fills containers with water from a sand dam in Makueni County, Kenya

“When I think about sand dams, I feel happy,” said Rhoda Peter, a farmer. “Our shallow well does not dry. It goes all through the dry seasons.”

Before the sand dams were built, she and her children would walk several kilometers to fetch water in springs in the faraway Mbooni Hills. It took them three hours, and many times they’d fall because of the rocky terrain.

Water Woes in Kenya’s Dry Southeast

Many people in Kenya’s dry southeastern region rely on boreholes and rivers for water, but many boreholes produce saline water and permanent rivers are few and far for most people. Earth dams are another source, but they’re also few and require regular desilting.

At the Kasengela site, Mwanzia Mutua, who is leading the group building the dam, shared his story. He used to walk seven kilometers from his home to the Athi River every day to get water for his family and animals. This trek took up his entire day. 

Eventually, a borehole was built, which made the journey shorter, but it was still quite far. Mutua explained that once the sand dam is completed, getting water will only take about 10 minutes.

“When water is far, you spend all your time looking for it and are unable to do any other work,” said the farmer. “Cattle die because the water is far.”

The sand dam in Kasengela was completed on March 14, 2024, after two and a half months of construction and should be ready to use by December 2025, after it fills with sand.

Only 5% of Makueni’s nearly 245,000 households had access to clean piped water by 2022. The county produces about 30,000 cubic meters per day against a demand of 60,000 cubic meters.

“The water situation in Makueni is dire,” said Mutula Kilonzo Junior, the county’s governor. “We have a huge deficit that we are not supplying.”

He said water shortages lead to problems for agriculture and health implications as people are forced to use unclean sources, taking the time and energy of children to fetch water, and affecting their education.

READ ALSO: Ecobank Ghana Spearheads Effort to Boost Exports Growth Under AfCFTA

Tags: africaagricultureclean waterClimate ChangeDrought CrisisKenyaMakueniSand Dams
Please login to join discussion
Previous Post

Desk Deficit Imperils Ghana’s Quality Education Goals

Next Post

Executive’s Participation in Law Making Unsubstantial

Sign up for The Vaultz analytic wire

Get weekly news analysis from top editors at The Vaultz and stay informed on trending economic and business issues from across the globe.

Related Posts

Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide, Police, Mining
General News

Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide

June 22, 2025
Hon. Haruna Iddrsu, Ghana's Minister for Education
General News

Government Earmarks GH¢40 M to Cushion Nascent Public Universities 

June 22, 2025
Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran
UK

Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran

June 22, 2025
NPA Boss Commends Fuel Levy Postponement After Stakeholder Engagement 
Extractives/Energy

Ghana Has Over Two Months of Fuel Reserves — NPA Boss

June 22, 2025
Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare
Entertainment

Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare

June 22, 2025
Ghana’s $2 Billion Food Import Bill: Agric Minister Calls for Urgent Reform
Agribusiness

Ghana’s $2 Billion Food Import Bill: Agric Minister Calls for Urgent Reform

June 22, 2025
Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide, Police, Mining
General News

Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide

by Silas Kafui AssemJune 22, 2025
Hon. Haruna Iddrsu, Ghana's Minister for Education
General News

Government Earmarks GH¢40 M to Cushion Nascent Public Universities 

by Evans Junior OwuJune 22, 2025
Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran
UK

Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran

by Lawrence AnkutseJune 22, 2025
NPA Boss Commends Fuel Levy Postponement After Stakeholder Engagement 
Extractives/Energy

Ghana Has Over Two Months of Fuel Reserves — NPA Boss

by Prince AgyapongJune 22, 2025
Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare
Entertainment

Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare

by Esther Korantemaa OffeiJune 22, 2025
Ghana’s $2 Billion Food Import Bill: Agric Minister Calls for Urgent Reform
Agribusiness

Ghana’s $2 Billion Food Import Bill: Agric Minister Calls for Urgent Reform

by Stephen M.CJune 22, 2025
Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide, Police, Mining
Hon. Haruna Iddrsu, Ghana's Minister for Education
Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran
NPA Boss Commends Fuel Levy Postponement After Stakeholder Engagement 
Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare
Ghana’s $2 Billion Food Import Bill: Agric Minister Calls for Urgent Reform
[/vc_row_inner]

Recent News

  • Police Intensify Anti-Galamsey Crackdown, Arrest 26 Suspects Nationwide
  • Government Earmarks GH¢40 M to Cushion Nascent Public Universities 
  • Starmer Backs Trump’s Strikes On Iran
  • Ghana Has Over Two Months of Fuel Reserves — NPA Boss
  • Mahama Hands Ambassador Role To Actress Kalsoume Sinare
The Vaultz News

Copyright © 2021 The Vaultz News. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • General News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Opinions
  • Economics
    • Economy
    • Finance
      • Banking
      • Insurance
      • Pension
    • Securities/Markets
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Vaultz Business
    • Extractives/Energy
    • Real Estate
  • World
    • Africa
    • America
    • Europe
    • UK
    • USA
    • Asia
    • Around the Globe
  • Innovation
    • Technology
    • Wheels
  • Entertainment
  • 20MOBPL2D
  • Jobs & Scholarships
    • Job Vacancies
    • Scholarships

Copyright © 2021 The Vaultz News. All rights reserved.