2,000 Kenyans can now access clean water thanks to MAF

Women from Lbaarok receive life-transforming water filters (credit: Paula Alderblad)

MAF’s been flying hundreds of water filters to 17 remote villages in isolated Marsabit County, northern Kenya. MAF’s Jacqueline Mwende finds out how MAF has enabled Water Matters to transform the lives of some 2,000 people

Before MAF partnered with charity Water Matters, the villagers of Loglogo and surrounding areas in Kenya’s isolated Marsabit County, were drinking dirty water not fit for human consumption.

Thuur Village – untreated water before filtering is dirty and brown (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Water from existing boreholes and wells is in short supply. Unpredictable rainfall has exacerbated the problem.

Contaminated water drawn from natural ponds and man-made water pans, in conjunction with poor hygiene, can cause cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid – all deadly diseases if left untreated.

Drinking contaminated water can kill (credit: Paula Alderblad)

According to the UN, Kenya is considered ‘water scarce’. Only 600 cubic metres per person per year is available – well below the UN’s threshold of 1,000 cubic metres.

Due to lack of infrastructure, only 15% of Kenya’s water resources have been developed. Kenya’s rural population in particular are not able to store rainwater properly or effectively pump water from rivers. Consequently, water ends up polluted or wasted.

Rural Kenya lacks infrastructure to store & pump water (credit: Paula Alderblad)

40% of Kenya’s population (nearly 22 million people) still don’t have access to safe drinking water. With Kenya’s population set to exceed 90 million by 2050, experts predict that available water could halve by then – i.e. a drastic drop to only 300 cubic metres per person.

Two-hour flight or seven hours by ‘road’?

MAF partners with Water Matters to deliver lifesaving water filters (credit: Paula Alderblad)

MAF partner Water Matters wanted to offer a drinking water solution to some of Kenya’s most vulnerable and isolated people in the form of water filters.

MAF’s 2hr flight from Nairobi to Loglogo saves 7 hrs of road travel (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Without MAF’s two-hour flight from the capital Nairobi to Loglogo, it would take the team seven hours of exhausting overland travel to deliver the filters.

Given that MAF is the only air operator to fly to Marsabit, it made sense for Water Matters to save time and deliver their precious cargo as smoothly and as quickly as possible.

MAF’s the only air operator in Marsabit – home to remote villages (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Why spend hours navigating pot-holed ridden dirt tracks, risk breakdown or get caught up in dangerous community clashes? Better to arrive safe and refreshed.

Instead of allowing road travel to eat into their already packed schedule, the team will use their precious time to deliver water filters to communities and schools, demonstrate how to use them, and provide education about sanitation.

The team demonstrates how dirty water goes into the filter… (credit: Paula Alderblad)

…and how it comes out clean after filtering (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Marcus Ahlander from Water Matters says the team wouldn’t be able to do their work effectively without MAF:

‘We love partnering with MAF because they fly to many remote locations across Kenya where these water filters are needed. By working together, these water filters will help many people access clean and safe drinking water.

‘MAF’s longstanding presence and compassionate outreach to communities have forged a strong bond of trust. We’ll continue working with MAF to ensure that even more water filters will reach locations in dire need.’

Marcus Ahlander from Water Matters

Marcus from Water Matters (R) loves partnering with MAF (credit: Paula Alderblad)

‘Angels from heaven’

Villages receiving water filters include Loglogo, Thuur, Kamboe and Lbaarok in Marsabit County. Over 200 households will now reap the benefits of clean water.

The filter removes 99.9% of impurities from the water (credit: Paula Alderblad)

The simple water filter, which consists of a specially designed hose nozzle attached to a bucket, turns dirty water into safe drinking water, removing 99.9% bacteria and parasites, and 100% microplastics.

If maintained and used correctly, one single filter can last a family around 15 years and clean up to 3.9 million litres of water!

One filter can last a family around 15 years (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Community health assistant Meshack Gayere helps Marcus and team distribute the filters to various villages and demonstrates how they work in the local language.

Women from Thuur Village watch the water filter demonstration (credit: Paula Alderblad)

During one demonstration at Thuur, faces of villagers light up with joy as they witness murky, contaminated water drawn from their local water pan, transform into clear drinking water. One resident calls the team ‘angels from heaven’.

A little boy enjoys drinking a glass of clean, filtered water (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Meshack cannot emphasise enough, the importance of delivering water filters to isolated areas:

‘Water filters are a lifeline for our community. They ensure clean, safe drinking water for our families. They have become a valuable asset in the fight against cholera and have significantly improved sanitary conditions.

‘They are not just tools – they are agents of change, providing better health and wellbeing in marginalised communities. They will bring us hope and health in uncertain times. We are so grateful!’

Meshack Gayere – community health assistant

Meshack Gayere celebrates with a glass of clean water! (credit: Paula Alderblad)

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