Tank building women groups in Laikipia, Kenya
Exerpts of a survey of 15 tank building women groups in Laikipia, Kenya. The survey was done by Martin Kamau Gitau in 1996, résumé by Franziska Krisch, FAKT
Some of the questions asked:
Why do women who have access to piped water still engage in building rainwater tanks?
- piped water is not reliable
- tanks are used to also store piped water that is not always available
- rainwater is of better quality for drinking
What were the improvements in your daily life after the building of a tank?
- More time for
- Agriculture
- Housework and hygiene
- education (children)
- income generating activities
- leisure and social activities - Reduction of expenditure on
- buying water
- treating water and buying detergents
- fruit and vegetables
- medical treatment for water bound diseases
- employing helpers for agriculture and husbandry - Income generation from
- increasing size of cropland
- sale of vegetables or fruit
- tree nursery
- keeping (more) livestock
- casual jobs - Environment/community improved by
- trees, that also provide firewood (could be planted after the availability of water through the tanks)
- building public schools (as there are more children, esp. girls who can go to school now)
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What are the reasons for (especially younger) women not to join a women's group?
- cannot afford the money for the monthly contribution
- rules are too strict (regarding money?)
- saving is difficult as someone (husband or children?) always claims the money
- insecurity of marriages: women would rather save for movable assets than for tanks
What are the reactions of men and children the rainwater harvesting initative?
- after initial doubts men start to appreciate the efforts of women
- changes in the division of labour between men and women: women are constructing tanks (traditionally men's work), some men help with women's work (fetching water and firewood)
- children are proud of the achievements of their mothers
What is the financial situation of the groups?
- 27% never received any financial support form outside
- 60% would continue slowly with tank construction even without support from outside
- 1 group would shift to less expensive activities
- 13% say their group would collaps completely without support