From Drought to Hope: Advancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Turkana County

Water is life—and in Turkana, where droughts have long made water a scarce treasure, it is now the foundation of lasting change. Turkana is Kenya’s second largest county, yet it is also one of the country’s driest and most water-insecure regions. Mary Lokwalop, a mother of five from Kalopiria, Turkana, remembers the old days. "We used to walk 50–60 kilometers without finding water. Our children missed school and our livestock suffered and died. The river water we collected caused many diseases and problems," she recalls. Droughts dried up rivers, weakened livestock, and made everyday survival a struggle. But today, the Kalopiria Water Supply System, a solar-powered borehole paired with a 1,300-meter pipeline, has changed her life. "I walk only 20 minutes to the water point at the school. The water is clean, there is enough for our families and livestock, and hygiene has greatly improved," Mary explains. Now hope and change is flowing through Turkana. 

On 6 March 2025, the Government of Kenya, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and UNICEF officially launched the second phase of Strengthening County Resilience against WASH-related Climate Crisis (SCORE Project Phase II)—in Turkana. Building on the success of SCORE I, this new phase aims to expand access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene services across four sub-counties: Turkana Central, Loima, Kibish, and Turkana North. By strengthening community resilience to climate-related water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges, the project will directly benefit 139,500 people and reach an additional 407,144 indirectly. 

A Journey of Change: The Success of SCORE I 

With a $7 million investment from 2019 to 2022, SCORE I project transformed Turkana by providing safe drinking water, enhancing sanitation and hygiene, and ensuring the long-term functionality of water systems. Over 232,000 people gained access to improved WASH facilities and services. Women and children no longer spend hours walking to fetch water and more children attend school as solar-powered boreholes now bring safe and reliable water to home and school. Livestock, once on the brink of starvation, drink freely from protected troughs.  

SCORE I enabled the drilling of 76 new boreholes, providing safe drinking water to 176,000 people. In addition, seven boreholes were upgraded with solar-powered systems ensuring water remains available even during severe droughts. Ten sand dams were constructed to capture and store precious rainwater, as part of the project. 

Teachers in Turkana have noticed a positive shift. Mr. Kevin Osuru says, “Before, students had to fetch water from shallow wells. Now, we have taps, storage tanks, and clean water right here at school. It has completely changed our education environment,” Another teacher, Mr. Ken Kariuki, adds, “Since water is now accessible, more children attend school, and parents are encouraged to enroll their kids.” 

SCORE I went beyond providing the community with safe water. As part of the project, new latrines were built resulting in 428 villages being declared open defecation free, contributing to improved public health. More than 230,000 people learned the importance of handwashing and hygiene, which has helped prevent disease. In addition, 81 Water User Associations and 10 Water Resource User Associations received training to ensure long-term functionality of water points.  Public–private partnerships with water service providers were also established, ensuring reliable water services for 50 communities. 

Turkana Governor H.E. Jeremiah Lomorukai expressed his appreciation, stating, “KOICA and UNICEF have been instrumental in bringing water to Turkana. This partnership has reached places that never had a drop of water before. We genuinely appreciate it.” 

SCORE II: The Next Phase 

Building on these successes, SCORE II is set to expand and enhance more sustainable and resilient WASH services in Turkana.  

KOICA Kenya Deputy Country Director Ms. Hwayeong Bae noted that SCORE II will go beyond WASH infrastructure. She stated, “Our collaboration is about enhancing the dignity of the Turkana people. Through continued partnership with the County Government of Turkana and UNICEF, we are building a better, healthier future for Turkana.”  

The new phase will rehabilitate or upgrade 38 boreholes and construct three new multi-village boreholes. It will also improve WASH facilities in 21 schools and 10 health centers, ensuring these facilities are inclusive of all genders and persons with disabilities. Moreover, it will strengthen sustainable water management by training more local associations and expanding public–private partnerships, empowering communities to take control of their future water supply. SCORE II will also promote better sanitation and hygiene practices in communities and institutions. UNICEF Kenya WASH Section Chief, Mr. Haile Gashaw, emphasized, “UNICEF in partnership with KOICA and the support of the County Government of Turkana, have made a significant impact on the community. We count on the county government’s continuing support and commitment to ensure a sustainable and lasting impact as we work together in SCORE II.” 

The sun still burns hot over Turkana, but water is flowing and hope is rising. With every drop of safe water, we are helping create a future where every child and family have access to safe and resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions, even in the face of climate change.