In the early morning after midnight, our DFL team was ready for the long journey to a village 33.5miles (54 kms) before Marsabit town. A journey that took close to 8hours. with over 31miles (50kms) off-road driving, crossing many laghas (dry river beds), with high probability of getting stuck, with no close rescue nearby, just some gazing wildlife wondering who these may be.
The journey continued, with the view of rocky hills nearby, and more rocks begin to appear on our paths. The road becomes bumpier and you start to miss the sandy roads. On the way you start to see the power of the sun, as rocks nearby weather and fall apart. Along the way you find people waving empty water cans, in the hope you may share some water with them, that opens your mind to have an idea of where you are headed.
Eight hours later, we arrive at a village named Korr, a village in the Kaisut desert, in Northern Kenya, which is part of the larger Marsabit county. Marsabit county borders Moyale and the neighbouring country, Ethiopia. The Temperatures hit 940f (340c). Most people and animals are under the trees for some shade. We head to meet the local contact who will introduce us to the community and orient us. After an hour or so, we head to the field to search for water. Some may wonder why the search for water, because if water was easy to find, we wouldn’t have made that journey. The search will involve scientific field testing – geophysics and hydrogeology – including collection of local historical data and many other factors.
Soon head out with the local contact, our Experienced Geologist, equipped with his tools of trade and off we go into the unknown. It’s up to this point I realize that water is elusive. As we head towards the targeted village away from Korr Centre, the roads begin to disappear. We followed animal paths and footpaths, as our guide led us. We meander left and right, following geographical cues that will help determine where we might find this precious commodity, Water! Soon there were no more paths to follow, we created our own. We crossed several dry river beds, hoping not to get stuck, but the vehicles proved able and we moved on. We later came to a stop, and out we came curious to know why the stop. We started walking towards this huge dry river bed, silently following the Geologist. We come to a halt, and we wait to see what happens next. Shortly the community elders come close and they have a chat, our local guide also serves as an interpreter and soon questions and answers flow and there seems to be some agreement.
Our hope is that we have finally found the place to have the borehole drilling point. In a few minutes, the testing gadgets are unpacked. The elders request to say a prayer and after they are done the process begins. 45mins later, we converge to hear the findings. They are not as we hoped, and we move to another point. We kept moving to two more locations. This time round, we see a smile on the geologist’s face. An elderly man with a beard, smiled so hard, revealing his white teeth. There we knew we had a breakthrough. He explains to our team leader that there are better prospects of this final position. There we knew things were looking better. We forgot the hot sun and the baking ground.
Soon our hope was restored. Our local guide, talked with the elders and shared the prospects of this new findings. They smiled too as water is key to their survival.
Having identified the community, their needs and an actionable plan, now we wait for the actualization of it. We ask that you join hands with us, through your generous donations, to touch the lives of people in Korr by providing them with water.
Touching lives, one well at a time.