Marsabit Gets Lifeline as Airtel Money and Red Cross Deliver Clean Water

More than 2,400 households in Northern Kenya are celebrating improved access to clean and reliable water following the commissioning of a new borehole in Marsabit town and the rehabilitation of four water sources in Samburu County.

The initiative, dubbed the Karantina water project, is a partnership between Airtel Money Kenya Limited and the Kenya Red Cross Society.

It is set to transform the lives of over 450 households in Marsabit town’s Saku sub-county, where residents have long struggled with water scarcity caused by recurring droughts.

The borehole project includes the construction of masonry tanks, pipeline extensions, watering troughs, kiosks, and prepaid meters to ensure sustainable water use for both households and livestock.

Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Riwe described the project as a lifeline for drought-stricken communities.

“We thank Airtel Money Kenya and the Kenya Red Cross Society for the continued interventions in Marsabit County aimed at building resilience and offering relief. I urge all residents who will benefit from this initiative to take good care of this water project, as we are the immediate beneficiaries. Red Cross and Airtel Money have played their part, let us play ours by safeguarding the water,” he said.

Beyond Marsabit, the partnership has also rehabilitated water points in Loosuk, Lojorin, Bendera, and Loltulele in Samburu County, benefitting more than 1,950 households.

According to Airtel Money Kenya Managing Director Anne Kinuthia-Otieno, the project reflects the company’s commitment to uplifting the communities it serves.

“Airtel Money continues to grow, and we are witnessing more Kenyans trusting in our services. As we grow, it is imperative for us to grow with the communities that we serve through transformational initiatives such as the Karantina water project. We trust that this borehole will be a source of health, opportunity, and dignity for this community,” she said.

In 2022, Airtel Money Kenya Limited donated Ksh 50 million to the Kenya Red Cross Society to support drought response efforts that reached over 5.1 million Kenyans. The organisations have since continued to invest in long-term water solutions.

Kenya Red Cross Society Governor Geoffrey Korir noted the need for sustainability in such projects.

“We thank Airtel Money for this partnership and their continued support of Kenyans. Moving forward, we should engage as stakeholders on sustainable ways to efficiently utilise water projects such as irrigation initiatives,” he said.

Kenya faces one of the most severe water scarcity challenges in the region, with only 15 per cent of its water resources developed.

In Northern Kenya, where rainfall is unpredictable, access to clean water remains a daily struggle for thousands of families.

For many residents of Marsabit and Samburu, the new water projects mean more than just relief.