Residents of Kiwawa ward in Pokot North sub county are facing a water shortage as they are forced to share a water pan with livestock and wild animals.
The residents who are now affected by waterborne diseases have appealed to the national government to drill boreholes for them as water scarcity looms.
Emmanuel Anna, a local from Kasses village said the water is dirty because wild animals urinate in the pan at night and during the day they drive their animals into the water pan to take water. “We share the pan with dogs, we need clean water for domestic use. We are tired of visiting the hospital every time because of typhoid, cholera and malaria,” she said.
She said the area lacks enough dams and water pans as they stare at a drought season ahead following the sunny season that is being experienced in the area.
“It rained recently that is why the water pan is filled with water but our worry is in the next one month the pan might be dry. Our animals step in the pan and we also step in the pan while wearing shoes and fetch the same water for domestic use. You can imagine the amount of dirt we have consumed,” she said.
Miriam Kapengiro said women and children are the most affected with waterborne diseases as children are admitted in hospitals on a daily basis fighting for their lives.
They appealed to the County and national governments to drill boreholes in the area so that they can be relieved from the scourge of suffering from waterborne diseases.
The County Health CEC Geoffrey Lipale gave out water filters to the residents citing that the County grapples with shortage of clean water which has contributed to many cases of water borne diseases.
He said the residents have been consuming dirty water. “Dysentery, cholera and typhoid are the leading killer diseases in Pokot North sub county, they use the dirty water to cook,” said Lipale.
He said the area recorded high cases of cholera at the beginning of this year hence advised residents to boil water before drinking,
Lipale noted that the county had began distributing water filters to the locals to help them take clean water.
The area MCA Joseah Yarakwang asked well wishers and non governmental organizations to drill boreholes in the area citing that the County gets little funds and yet it has so many challenges.