The Challenge
Kinango Dam was constructed in 1952 by the British Colonial government. Gradual siltation, unforgiving climatic conditions and a lack of maintenance caused it to lose its functionality as a water basin. It has been over four decades since it functioned properly.
In 2004, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) led intervention measures when a severe drought swirled through the Coast, North Eastern and Eastern regions of Kenya as well as parts of the Rift Valley. So brutal was it that the Government declared it a national disaster. At the Coast, the district hit hardest was Kwale. Of those affected half of them resided within the Kinango location.
The Intervention
The M-PESA Foundation took up this initiative and helped fund the programme to a tune of Ksh. 207 million. The integrated food security programme has impacted at least 2,500 people directly and 10,000 others indirectly.
The Impact
The programme has increased food security through increased access to safe water, agriculture support, health and nutrition awareness. It has also addressed cross cutting needs including food security, water supply, improved sanitation, hygiene awareness, nutrition, health care interventions as well as economic stimulus through formation of agriculture cooperatives and linkages to markets.
