Maji ... we found Water !!

 

At a depth of 11 meters we found water. The sandy loam soil however, is causing difficulty as it is spalling off into the water at the well bore’s deepest depth. The solution to this is to install the concrete culverts early, again to maintain the well diameter and wall integrity … for digging safety as well as maintaining the well depth already accomplished.

We installed 2 culverts today and will start digging again tomorrow morning. The goal is to get to total depth by the end of the day. Then the completion begins … a four to five day process. As things are going now, well will complete ahead of schedule.

The people of the school and orphanage are already checking things out … How long will it be? The most common question as they struggle with their water jugs, headed to a contaminated source most likely … requiring every drop to be boiled repeatedly, in turn then requiring more firewood ... from the forest region, a couple of miles away ...

        

Elections: Kenya 2013 !

As mentioned in a previous post, March 4^th is the election date for local, county, and federal elections, including the presidency. There is a large amount of anticipation, and some anxiety, for this balloting date, in refection to all the deadly post-election violence from the last Presidential election. World political eyes are on Kenya, as they are working very hard for a peaceful national voting process.

There are some very specific items to this election which mark it as history making. There is a new constitution in place since the last election. Yes, a new Constitution!

One article of the Kenyan Constitution calls for the formation of “Counties” as opposed to an overall country wide federal governmental process … read Counties in comparison with States.

The new Constitution then calls for an election of Senators for each County … these Senators will work in conjunction with the existing House of Parliament … Representatives and Senators … aligned with the new Counties.

And the third significant article calls for the election of Women Representatives from each County to work at the Federal level … a major step. Similar to the significance of the US’s 19^th amendment passed in 1920, almost 100 years ago.

The “official campaigning” has just started … without the advantage of television and radio being affordable to all Kenyans, the most common method for a politician to get their word out is the car/truck impromptu “parade” with many posters, street banners, and the loud speakers on the lead vehicle ... makes for interesting spectating, and some amusing traffic jams ...

Continued Progress on day 2

Began digging this morning to great Equatorial Kenya weather but mid-morning thunderstorms rolled in and halted the progress. We did get a small break in the rain this afternoon to dig for another meter achieving a depth of 9 meters, after two days.

 

At a depth of 6 meters we encountered a sandy loam soil mixed with the clay … this soil type does not make for the secure walls of the pure red clay. As a result, we will install concrete culverts in a vertical position to secure the walls of the well … and for the safety of the diggers, to prevent wall cave in’s.

Picture: Martin Idewa digs to a depth of 9 meters.

Well digging has begun - Bikeke Orphanage

   

With the support of beautiful weather, the well digging began. The first well is at the Bikeke Orphans Home and Liberty Primary School, serving over 230 children. The school and orphanage are currently buying water daily for the children, using valuable funds for a natural resource which will be available on site within the next week to 10 days.

We were able to dig to a depth of 4 meters today; a perfectly formed, 1 meter diameter hole, in the rich red Kenyan Rift Valley clay. We anticipate finding water at 12 to 15 meters and then completing the well with the wall containment, the water pump, the producing pipe string to the surface, and then the well head.

Total project is estimated to be completed by February 15^th.

Picture Notes:
Ben Wanjala; Hydrologist and Mark Karani Wanyama; digging crew member, inspect well at end of the day.
Humphrey Wekesa taking his turn digging at well depth.

Travel to the Rift Valley

Getting Started (albeit a slow start)

After a short early-early morning flight from Nairobi International to the western Kenya town of Eldoret, hired a car & driver to get to Kitale … although a short distance (56 km), it took an extended amount of time because of the road conditions … a bouncefest of pot holes, washed away road sections, and heavy traffic of cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, & herds of cattle, goats and sheep. Ref: Same road as detailed in the early posts of 2010 blog – just 3 more years of new, deeper pot holes.

Thunderstorms at noon today prevented any outside work … and rain continues tonight … maybe we should be building cisterns, not digging wells …

Rain does certainly help the beautiful flora of the Kenyan landscape.

The major topic of discussion at the bus stops, pubs, motorcycle taxi stands, and television talk shows is the March 4^th elections … from local commissioners to the Federal elections, including the Presidential office. The two prime candidates have an interesting connection which is creating a very, very close race. One candidate is the son of the former President, and his opponent is the son of the former Vice President. The biggest focus is to have a peaceful election, an objective sorely missed in the deadly post-balloting violence from the last election.

Kenya’s national goal is to be the “Business Capital” of Africa … the next decade will be critical, but it is an achievable ambition. Milele kuishi Kenya !

Global Journey - Smile - You're in Kenya

Smile - you're in Kenya !

The "half way around the globe" part is done ... now just a short 1 hour domestic flight to Eldoret, and then a 1 hour car ride, and we'll be in Kitale.
And yes, the Kenyan people love to smile. They love life, enjoy life, don't take anything for granted, and are always willing to offer you help.

The first well work will begin Thursday morning at the Bikeke Orphanage and Liberty School, home of some 230 children.

2013 ... New Well at Orphan Home ... Kenya

In the Rift Valley of western Kenya, the Ephrahim Orphan Home has over 190 children. The new Ndogo Orphan Home in Kitale now already has 28 children. The Bikeke Orphan Home and School provides for over 230 children. All three of these homes operate without access to adequate clean water or with no accessible water at all.

The first trip of 2013 for the Wind and Water Foundation is aimed at taking care of these situations.

Leaving Soon !