Maasai Water Drilling in Kenya

In the heart of a sun-scorched region, a small Kitonya Village struggled daily with the harsh reality of water scarcity. Families would rise before dawn, trekking miles with containers and donkeys to reach the nearest water source, a stagnant pond filled with debris and contaminants. This arduous journey took its toll both physically and emotionally as children often missed school, and parents faced constant worry of illness from water they consumed. Inspired by stories of resilience and service to humanity, The Great Gathering Nonprofit Organization heard the village’s plight and felt compelled to make a difference.

How many people will this project support?

This project will impact five Maasai communities in Kajiado County, Kenya. Approximately 5,000–10,000 people live across these communities, most in traditional homesteads spread throughout the arid rangelands, where families depend on cattle and goats for their livelihoods. The well will also water an estimated 10,000+ head of livestock, the economic backbone of these households.

The Issue

The Great Gathering Nonprofit is actively addressing the critical water access issue faced by five Maasai communities in Kajiado County, Kenya, where people, particularly women and children, must travel long distances to reach contaminated open-pit water sources shared with livestock, posing severe health risks and threatening livelihoods dependent on cattle and goats. By supporting the drilling of a well, this Community Development Project aims to provide these communities with clean, accessible water, enhancing health outcomes and enabling prosperity through sustainable livestock rearing and small-scale crop cultivation during droughts.This initiative fosters collaborative dialogues among Maasai leaders, local stakeholders ensuring long-term resilience. The impact of this project extends beyond immediate health benefits, as access to clean water empowers these communities to thrive economically and socially, reducing the burden on women and children who often bear the responsibility of water collection. 

The Solution

Drilling a well that serves all their needs, mitigates risks from contaminated sources but also supports the Maasai’s ability to sustain their herds and cultivate food, creating a ripple effect of prosperity and environmental harmony.

A special note: The five communities have agreed that once the well is drilled, The Great Gathering Nonprofit will assist with any needs for upkeep. After this time period is over, the communities will take over responsibility to care for the well. They will use a system that collaborates with all villages and stakeholders to sell cattle or food crops to pay for needs. We found this to be an incredible way for the communities to take on the responsibilities of upkeep. 

Potential Long Term Impact

Drought resilience will be the most lasting effect of a permanent water source for these people. Clean water at the center of the community strengthens the Maasai way of life rather than replacing it — allowing these pastoralist families to remain on their ancestral rangelands, pass down traditional knowledge, language and livestock husbandry, and build lasting resilience against the droughts that are becoming more frequent across Kajiado County.

How You can Help 

This project is intended to support a entire region of land of the Maasai in Kenya. Five communities will be impacted well into the future.

Due to the remote location for the drilling and construction to take place, they may need to build a road that will make it possible for the heavy equipment to travel over soft earth.

They need a water tank, solar to run the pumps, and a building to protect the water source for the people to enter and be safe from animals. This will also require building water troughs for animals to drink from.

Total needs for this project: $108,000 USD.

We have worked on this project in phases for a total of five years so far. We are committed to the Maasai people to fund this project in full.

If you would like to make a larger donation to this project, please contact us directly for more details at indigenous@thegreatgathering.org.