Published in May 2016

Here’s the latest on why we're working in Lekurruki, Kenya, and the projects that your donations are helping to support...

Our current programme in Lekurruki Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya, is increasing access to water for 3,126 people and to conserve and sustain wildlife.

The aim is to provide sustainable water supplies for the people, livestock and wildlife, enabling pastoral communities to develop resistance to droughts and reduce pressure on resources; reducing congestion and conflict between neighbouring communities and wildlife at water points.

This is part of Sand Dams Worldwide’s wider strategy to create a scalable model of Water Resource Management across the Northern Rangelands, working in partnership with the Northern Rangelands Trust.

Why we’re there: Protecting Kenya’s wildlife

Lekurruki Conservancy is one of the 27 community-owned conservancies in the Northern Rangelands; a harsh, semi-arid region, with a long history of drought, land degradation, insecurity and conflict, where communities migrate between scarce water sources. The region supports 25% of Kenya’s wildlife, including globally significant populations of vulnerable and endangered mammals (including the African Elephant, Rothschild Giraffe and Grevy’s Zebra), living outside formally protected national reserves.

The Lekurruki region supports 25% of Kenya’s wildlife, including globally significant populations of vulnerable and endangered mammals (such as the African Elephant), living outside formally protected national reserves.

A new, better and safer water source

In Laikipia County, within 60,000 acres of land, 69% of the population has no access to safe water. Lekurruki Conservancy, home to the Mukogodo Maasai Community (3,126 people and 19,072 livestock) had no improved water sources or integrated water resource management until the first sand dam Sand Dams Worldwide built in 2015.

Due to increasingly long periods of drought, people and wildlife – particularly elephants – are forced to travel further in search of water, often coming into conflict at dwindling water sources - dangerous for people and wildlife alike.

Why sand dams are the answer

Sand dams are the most cost-effective rainwater harvesting method in drylands. After 12 years proving our project model in Kenya, and with the experience of our strategic Kenyan partner Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF), Sand Dams Worldwide are now developing and testing our projects in new areas and new contexts – with additional benefits, such as wildlife conservation.

The history

We began working with the Lekurruki Conservation Trust in 2014 after conducting a feasibility study on the potential for sand dams in Lekurruki and evaluating the opportunities, needs and priorities for water resource management in the region. This established sand dams as a viable solution to water supply needs. In January 2015, together with ASDF, we supported Lekurruki Conservation Trust to construct their first sand dam - the success of which began the current programme where we plan to construct 12 dams (over the next 2 years) with separate water abstraction methods for people and wildlife.

A sustainable future

The key to this programme is building the capacity of Lekurruki Conservation Trust to integrate Water Resource Management into Lekurruki Conservancy, enabling 100% sustainable access to clean water and creating a scalable, sustainable model to implement across other community conservancies in the Northern Rangelands.

We need your support!

We urgently need to raise money to support the Mukogodo Maasai their complete a network of dams in Lekurruki Conservancy, Kenya, so more people and their families have a lifelong supply of water.

£15 could provide a claw bar, an essential tool used to break rocks into smaller pieces.

£40 could provide a wheelbarrow, to transport rocks, sand and cement on the dam site.

£85 could provide a set of tools, including a hacksaw, pickaxe, claw bar, sledgehammer and shovel.