Mandera County, in Northern Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), faces recurring climate-induced disasters, including prolonged droughts, flash floods, and erratic rainfall that have disrupted livelihoods, reduced agricultural production, and depleted water sources. According to UNICEF, more than 80% of the county’s residents live without reliable access to safe drinking water, forcing families to rely on unsafe sources and rivers. This lack of clean water, coupled with widespread food insecurity, has contributed to alarmingly high rates of malnutrition. Data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey and nutrition assessments indicate that Mandera consistently records Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates above the WHO emergency threshold of 15%, with some surveys showing rates of 20–30% among children under five. Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions further compound the crisis, as acute watery diseases from unsafe water worsen malnutrition.
In Dandu village, these challenges are part of daily life for Failey Issack, a mother of seven. Her struggle deepened when her youngest child was diagnosed with acute malnutrition during a routine health screening at the local health centre. With her child’s health at risk, Failey made frequent trips to the clinic for treatment, where she was identified and registered for WASH Non-Food Items (NFI) support through a cross-border project implemented by Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) in partnership with Action Against Hunger (ACF), with funding from CDCS II. The project is targeting vulnerable households affected by climate related shocks to improve their access to WASH services at both health facility and community levels.
Failey together with 800 other households received a package containing two 20-litre jerricans for safe water storage, a bucket for fetching and storing water, PUR water treatment sachets for purifying drinking water, and bars of soap. Community members were also trained on how to properly treat water using the PUR sachets and how to adopt better hygiene practices.
“With the jerricans and bucket, I now fetch and store enough clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing,” Failey shared. “Before, I was using old containers that leaked, and my children often got sick from drinking dirty water because we didn’t treat it.”
The NFIs not only improved her family’s health but also eased her daily workload.
“Before, I would walk to the water point several times a day. Now, I only need to go once or twice, giving me more time to care for my children,” Failey added.
Failey’s commitment extends beyond her own household, she actively encourages her neighbours to adopt safe water practices and seek early treatment for their children to prevent acute watery diseases that can worsen malnutrition.
“These supplies have made a real difference,” Ahmed Haj a community health worker said warmly. “We are now seeing children in better health, and mothers are more consistent in bringing their children to the health centre.”