Movable and Immovable Modes of Potable Water Storage and Distribution in Rural, Peri-Urban and Urban Areas in Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties in Kenya, East Africa

Abstract

In developing counties, especially in Africa, the storage and distribution of clean and safe water for domestic consumption remain a great challenge. The current study investigated the various modes of storing and distributing potable water in a classical African setting. Potable water is majorly stored and distributed in two modes, i.e., movable and immovable. Selection is determined by several factors, i.e., geographical locality (rural/urban), water infrastructure, distance to the water source and water morbidity, economic disposition, and cultural considerations. Cultural beliefs and norms dictate certain modes of storage and distribution that are assigned along gender lines. The availability of certain animals, i.e., beasts of burden in some geographical localities, also influenced the selected mode. To determine the various modes of storing and distributing potable water in Uasin-Gishu and Nandi Counties in Kenya, a total of (50) subject respondents were purposefully identified and interviewed using an on-spot questionnaire. The sampling of respondents considered diverse demographical considerations, e.g., age bracket, educational background, and profession. The respondents were assured of confidentiality in the responses submitted. The results obtained were analysed using statistical methods and presented using frequencies, graphs, and pie charts as follows:

Movable modes                                                                                    Immovable modes

Overhead water pipeline, 19%;                                                        Jerricans, 8%

Water Boozer, 5%;                                                                             Containers, 3%

Hand Carts, 8%;                                                                                  Calabash/gourd, 1%

Beasts of burden, 15%;                                                                      Water jug, 6%

Pick-up/lorry (tanks), 9%;                                                               Dispenser, 4%

Motorcycle, 17%;                                                                                Traditional pot, 11%

Manual (head), 21%;                                                                         Overhead steel tank, 14%

Rollable water container, 4%;                                                         Household tanks, 53%

Water tunnel, 1%;

Underwater pipeline, 1%.

The findings indicate that the household tank (53%) is the main mode of immovable potable water storage, and the manual-head (21%) is the main mode of movable potable water distributed in Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties.