Project Overview

MACHAKOS COMMUNITY WATER PROJECT SUBMITED BY SUSAN MUSYOKA FOUNDATION (SMF) TO INFINITY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION PROJECT OVERVIEW Machakos County is situated on the Eastern part of Kenya and has a population of 1.4 million people who live mainly in the rural areas. The county falls within the semi-arid parts of Kenya that are faced with extreme water scarcity due to poor erratic rainfalls. According to data from the Machakos County authorities, approximately 38% of the local population get their water for domestic use, from earth dams and water pans while 34% of the people rely on water from seasonal rivers and streams. The water from these sources is shared by their farm animals at the source, is highly contaminated, and quite unfit for human consumption. To make the matters worse, during the dry spells, under the scorching sun, the water dries up leaving the people with no option but to scoop dirty water from the sand. Only about 3% of the people have some access to bore holes and shallow wells. In this project, The Susan Musyoka Foundation (SMF), intends to improve access to safe water and contribute towards the reduction in water related illnesses and thus improve quality of life in the community. The project aims at drilling 100 boreholes spread out within the county to benefit over 50,000 people/households. The target for the borehole drilling will be 80 households, 10 schools and 10 churches within the county making a total of 100 boreholes. Once the project is over, the community will have been trained on the use and protection of these water sources. Economic activities will be initiated and measures taken to conserve the environment. SMF will oversee the drilling of the boreholes by getting ten contractors to sink ten boreholes each so that the drilling exercise takes at least ten months. The water will be tested to ensure safety and the necessary permits and licenses will be obtained. Each borehole will be equipped with a solar powered water pump and a water reservoir tank. SMF will continue offering drilling services even after the project is over as an income earner. SMF is kindly requesting for USD 9,503,312.5 funding from Infinity International Development organization. It is my hope and prayer that once funded, the project will change the lives of many people in Machakos County.

Executive Summary

MACHAKOS COMMUNITY WATER PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This project aims at providing safe water to Machakos residents. As we all know, water is life and Susan Musyoka Foundation (SMF) believes that with more water available, the quality of life of the residents will definitely improve and also help in breaking the cycle of poverty experienced in the community. Machakos County is administratively divided into eight constituencies and forty wards. The project will drill Boreholes as follows: - - 80 boreholes, two in each of the forty wards = (30,000 beneficiaries) - 10 boreholes in selected schools = (10,000 beneficiaries) - 10 boreholes in churches = (10,000 beneficiaries) Total 100 Boreholes = 50,000 beneficiaries. This initiative will address water scarcity, ensuring sustainable access to clean water, thereby promoting the wellbeing and health of the community. The project will require USD 9,503,312.5 in order to sink 100 boreholes across the county and to benefit a minimum of 50,000 people/households. Economically this will be a great income earner due to the commercial activities that will be created. The major income generating activities will include: - 1. The purchase/hire of water bowsers to deliver water to homes and institutions at a fee of USD 70 per trip. Assuming four trips a day for one bowser at each borehole, it will mean an income of over USD 2,500,000 per year. 2. Water purification and bottling centers will be established across the project area, for the sale of clean bottled. It is estimated that each borehole will be able to realize incomes of up to USD 3000 per month which translates to (3000 x 100) USD 300,000 x 12 = 3,600,000 per year. 3. Other than the direct selling of the water, modern farming methods will be employed and serious commercial Agribusinesses will be established. Irrigation will be done and various crops will be grown crops for sale. E.g. Horticultural crops for sale locally as well as for export. The community will definitely become transformed through the provision of water across the county. 4. SMF will continue drilling boreholes after the project is over. The income earned can be used in further humanitarian activities or payments of any debts that may arise. The community members will be trained on water use, protection of the boreholes, and methods of improving their socio-economic welfare through improved healthcare and development of the various income generating activities.

Funds Required