Practical Action – Turkana, Kenya
This shallow well (right) at Lokiriama, near Lake Turkana in Kenya, is usually only a back-up supply in times of water shortage, but in recent decades these types of wells have had to become a main water source. More than 400,000 nomadic people are at risk in Turkana’s water crisis. This well uses the simplest technology to ensure it can be maintained by the community to provide a seasonal supply of safe, clean water.
In response to serious water shortages, reduced biodiversity and loss of cattle in Turkana, Practical Action helped introduce camels to the region (bottom right). While cattle and goats become emaciated in times of drought and no longer produce milk, camels are capable of surviving long periods without water and their milk provides a crucial source of nutrition. By herding camels, pastoralists are adapting yet maintaining their traditional way of life.
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Practical Action Kenya
Seeds of change
Shallow well at Lokiriama, near Lake Turkana, Kenya © Justine Williams/Practical Action
Camel herd, Turkana, Kenya © Georgina Cranston/Practical Action
