Mennonite
Central
Committee

Utooni Development Project

By Joshua Mukusya

Sand dams: A community against drought

Utooni development project is in Machakos District, some 1 1/2-hour drive from Nairobi, through Machakos town and on the newly constructed Machakos-Wote road. Our main market is in Kola, where we have some activities and an office. This project was born in late 1978 and registered with the department of Social Services in late 1979.

About six families from Utooni valley came together to find how they could fight the drought and water problem that continued to threaten us daily. These families saw the need to look into the two main problems, which were water and food. By 1980 we had registered 120 families and we got into serious work. The number of activities grew as we also grew.

These are the areas the project got involved in:

1. Water conservation
2. Food production
3. Food storage
4. Soil and tree conservation
5. Animal husbandry
6. Family health
7. Social problems
8. Youth training
9. Culture erosion
10. Training of members and training of visitors
11. Administration

We have tried to work and improve on the areas as needs come from the members and non-members.

Success and failures

The Utooni development project is truly remarkable in that, without the support of the local church structures or the administration officials, it mobilized 120 families in the Utooni valley and launched into two different sub-programmes, each guided by a committee, to serve the needs of the community. The eleven programmes have been given above.

The project embraces an area of about 60 square kilometers and takes in part of three different administrative locations and two main districts — namely Machakos and Makueni, and in church terms several different denominations.

The 120 families who have joined the project come from different clans, so the only natural bond in the group is relative geographical proximity and an urge to work together to improve the life of the community. About 2,000 families live in the area served by the project.

Over the years we have gone out and helped form other groups:

1. A.I.C Kaumuani W Group
2. A.I.C Kivani W Group
3. Muuo Self Help Group
4. KanyemifMukika S.H. Group
5. Tumaini S.H. Group
6. Nzaini Kilatuni Water Project
7. Manyanzaani S.H Group
8. Wikwatyo wa Mwee SHG
9. Usungio wa Ngiluni SHG
10. Kyuluni kyuma kyumithyo W project

And the number is growing.

Water conservation

Over the years we have been able to construct 122 sand dams. Two are broken. Tanks containing 500 gallons to 53,000 gallons are standing in families and areas of need like schools and health facilities. Several spring points were covered and are being used by the public. We have trained many artisans in construction who are now earning salaries constructing these dams and tanks.

Our experiences with sand dams

Over the years we have seen the following:

• We have created wetlands.
• We have raised the water table.
• We have slowed the erosion by creating walls across the main valleys and cutting terraces around these dams.
• We have seen the increase in trees. Some planted and others wild.
• We are able to set up tree nurseries with no water trouble.
• We have seen improvement of vegetable growing and also fruit trees coming up in families with land near these dams.
• There is an activity of sand harvesting going on in some places where Nzaini water project and Manzaa water project have formed a cooperative to sell their sand.
• We are seeing highland trees coming up in our areas due to water level improvement
• We have found this technology useful since it needs little maintenance. It is good for human, animals and birds.
• Outsiders do not dictate this technology because it is not in the interest of higher classes who make decisions on many projects. It is not a burden to the communities because the dams suit our needs. Finally Utooni Development project has tried to achieve what the communities think is good for them rather than what experts see as important.