Project for Integrated Water Supply in Bughuta Supported by the Embassy of Japan

Water ranked highly in the priority list for Buguta Sub Location. JICA approached the Embassy of Japan and initiated a discussion over funding opportunities in early 2010. Upon identifying a donor — the Grants for Grassroots Projects (GGP), administered through the Embassy of Japan and CDA/JICA — a local NGO was sought to submit an application on behalf of the Buguta/Makwasinyi community. MAZIDO was engaged after a review of three NGOs/CBOs to develop the proposal, and the grant was made in March 2011.

The initial plan was to supply water from the Makwasinyi spring, piped up to Buguta Market. After the Makwasinyi community refused to allow the project to draw water from its source, MAZIDO and CDA had to explore other options, with pipes worth KSh 3,600,592.35 already procured and lying unused at the Buguta AP lines. TAVEVO's revival of the Maungu-Buguta line presented an alternative, and after lengthy deliberation with GGP, a change of plan was requested in June 2012, a new survey was commissioned, and the request was approved in October 2012. Trenching was slowed by community delays but was completed in May 2013, with pipe laying finished the following month.

Achievements: rehabilitation of the Shashaghonyi water tank and repair of two water kiosks; construction of the Bughuta Market water kiosk; a 17 km water pipeline distribution network serving six villages; and two cattle troughs built to support livestock livelihoods.