In the heart of the arid Mandera East sub-county, where the unforgiving sun and dry winds have long shaped a life of hardship, the Bella community is writing a new chapter—one of resilience, dignity, and hope.
For generations, access to clean and safe water in Bella was nothing more than a distant dream. Women and children bore the heaviest burden, trekking over 5.6 kilometers each day under the scorching sun to fetch water from the seasonal River Daua—a source that was neither clean nor safe. The consequences were devastating: children missing school, families losing productive hours, and communities grappling with frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
But today, the story of Bella is changing—powerfully and permanently.
Thanks to the EU-funded project, ‘Resilience-Building Among Cross-Border Communities Through Enhanced Access to Water and Livelihoods,’ implemented by IOM Kenya in partnership with the Organization for Sustainable Development Africa (OSDA), the community now has access to clean and safe water right at its doorstep.
Through the DARIS WACAN initiative, a shallow well has been successfully drilled and fitted with a high-grid solar-powered pumping system. A 2.8-kilometer pipeline now connects the well to a central water collection point within the village, ensuring that clean water flows consistently and efficiently to those who need it most.
The ripple effect of this transformation is already being felt. Women and girls no longer risk their safety or sacrifice hours of their day walking to unsafe water sources. Families are beginning to reclaim their time, children are returning to school, and the community is taking confident strides toward better health and improved livelihoods.
And the journey doesn’t stop here.
Construction is currently underway on a 30m³ elevated steel water tank, set to provide Bella with a sustained and reliable water supply system. This critical infrastructure will cement the progress made, ensuring long-term water security and pushing the community closer to true self-reliance and resilience.
At OSDA, we believe in the power of community-led solutions. The transformation in Bella is not just about water—it’s about dignity, equity, and the right to thrive. As the sun rises over Mandera, it now shines on a community that is no longer defined by struggle, but by strength.
